Poem - Blankney Masquerade

In her book, Henry Chaplin a Memoir, his daughter The Marchioness of Londonderry writes, 'an old yellow sheet of paper has been preserved on which in faded ink is written , A List of the Company as they danced at the Masquerade at Blankney, the 9th January 1749'. Shortly before the masquerade Diana Chaplin had been married and it is thought the event may of been held in her honour. Her father Thomas Chaplin had died in 1747 and it was presumed his unmarried son John Chaplin, Diana's brother, hosted the occasion. Today's poem was written based on details from that faded piece of paper and accompanying notes.

Blankney Masquerade

It was January 1749
The event, a masquerade ball
The occasion, to mark a society wedding
The place was Blankney Hall
Diana, daughter of the late Thomas Chaplin
Had allowed her heart to be won
By Lord George Sutton Manners
The Duke of Rutland's son
To mark this great occasion
A match in heaven made
Excited servants prepared the Hall
For the Blankney masquerade
John Chaplin, brother of the bride
Acting as mine host
Was in the guise of King Henry V111
As he rose to propose the toast
The groom appeared as a Spaniard
As a Jardiniere the bride did revel
And Sir Francis Dashwood, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Was there dressed up as the Devil
Among other guests that danced that night
In their costumes so bizarre
A Priest, a Russian, a Chimney Sweeper
A Vandyke, a Turk and Huzsar
Miss Mannering wore a black gown with stars
Representing night
Dominos, Dancers and Queen of the Scots
Helped to make such a dazzling sight
Oh to have been there, that January night
As a fly upon the wall
And witnessed the rich and colourful sight
Of the Blankney masquerade ball.

Rodney Garlant

Could There Be A Jam Shortage?

The WI (Women's Institute) have launched a worthy campaign for No More Violence Against Women. Members are being asked to get involved by joining 'A Million Women Rise' march through London on 7th March in support of the campaign and lobby their MP on 30th January to improve victim support services. In addition, members are being asked to see whether local newspapers carry adverts for sexual services from trafficked women. (How will they know?). They are then asked to fill out surveys on the WI website or at their federation offices. When do they get time to make all that jam?

It's Serious - But You Have To Laugh

I saw on teletext yesterday that Royal Bank of Scotland shares had plunged by 63%. This was as a result of a bank announcement that it expected a deficit of between £7bn and £8bn for 2008. It reminded me of a funny story circulating just after the start of the credit crunch. This chap was sat at the breakfast table opening his mail. He turned to his wife and announced that his bank had returned his cheque marked 'Insufficient Funds'. He asked his wife "is that me or them".