Page 88 - An account of the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235. 1777 to 2012UGLE

88 An Account of the

At the Banquet P.M. Turner (on being called upon from the Chair) proposed
“Health to the Ladies”, in a strain of the most pleasing eloquence, and in a
very happy Style alluded to the circumstances of Each Muse being represented,
Nine Ladies having honored the Festival with their presence! The toast was
enthusiastically received. The Treasurer was requested by the Master’s Lady, to
return the acknowledgements of herself and Friends, Sir William spoke with
great animation, and designated those whom he had at the moment represented
as, “The Rosebuds of the Creation!”

The last five words are written in letters twice the size of the rest. Sir William,
though a bachelor, was clearly no misogynist, and did not confine his devotion
to the Muses.
Miss Western’s name appears several times; she seems to have been a friend of
Bro. Crew, another old bachelor.
The “Expences” of the entertainment amounted to £29. 8s. 6d., and the
receipts were
Arrears sent by Mr Holmes 4 - -
9 Lady Tickets ............... 9. 9. 0.
13. 9. 0.

Similar meetings took place at the Star and Garter in the June or July of
1830 and 1834, and annually from 1836 to 1845; while another in 1848, place
not stated, is the last noted in the minutes. In 1837 a dinner was also held at
Greenwich in July. A reference to the 1841 meeting will be found in Chapter
Twelve.
Illustrating what was said above, we find that at the regular meeting on 10
November 1829, “The Minutes of the last Regular Meeting in May, and the
records of the recreations on Midsummer day, and on the 14 July were read and
Confirmed.” There seems to be an intentional distinction between “records” and
“minutes”; the latter term could not apply in the case of Mrs Joseph Arden’s dance.
The attendance reached its maximum in 1839 with twenty members, nine
ladies and one visitor; after that it declined fairly regularly till in 1848 the