Newspaper Reports 1720-1723 25 February 1720 On Sunday last, as several Persons were Scating upon the Ice in Hyde Park, one dressed like a Lady, with a large Hoop Petticoat, a scarlet Cloak, and Mask'd, went on, to make one among them: But, unfortunately, the Ice broke, and took the Stranger up to the Waste; upon which a gallant Dutchman immediately came to afford his kind Assistance, and was dip'd in the same manner. At length, in struggling to get up, the Mask drop'd off, and the pretended Lady appeared to be a Gentleman, who was very well known there; whereupon the Hollander seemed sorely chagrin'd to have suffered so much, and to be so errantly cheated in the Subject of his Complaisance. (London Journal) 24-31 December 1720 Some Days since a Gentleman meeting another on the Royal Exchange, though a Stranger to him before, was presently acquainted with him, and told him, he was captivated with the fineness of his Person, and then declared himself in favour of the Crime of Sodomy; and warmly sollicited him for his Company to an adjoyning Tavern. This stun'd at first, the other; but collecting himself in order to view the Monster, and have an Opportunity to punish and put him to shame, he agreed to meet him the next Day at a Tavern by the Exchange; but before they met, the Gentlemen acquainted the Master of the House with the Matter, and several Persons were got ready on the Signal to enter the Room. Accordingly, when every thing within was ready for Action and the Alarm given, the People rushed in. The Guilty Person was not able to rectify some Indecencies he was in. Upon this they gave him the Cold Bath with several Pales [i.e. pails] of Water thrown in his Face. Thus restoring Speech and Motion to him, he cursed and swore in a very outragious manner, and endeavoured to fling himself out of the Room, but they would not part with him till he had been well rubbed down with some Oaken Towels, prepared for that purpose; after which they kick'd him out of the House. (London Journal) 29 April 1721 Some Time ago a young Spark, one of those they call Mollys, made a Beastly Attempt upon a Lawyer's Clerk under the Piazza's of Lincoln's-Inn Chappel, who, with great Presence of Mind, held him fast by the offending Member, and led him by it all the Way till he brought him before Justice Hungerford, who lives in that Neighbourhood, and who accordingly bound him over; and last Week he was try'd at the Sessions at Hicks's-Hall, and fined ten Pounds for the said Attempt. The Court, in Compassion to his Youth, and out of Regard to his Family, did not inflict any Corporal Punishment upon him, but severely reprimanded him, &c. (Applebee's Original Weekly Journal) 17 June 1721 One S—— a great Brickmaker at Hackney, was lately Charg'd with an Attempt to commit Sodomy on a Drawer at the Kings-Arms-Tavern in Lombard-Street, and being carried before Sir Thomas Abney, gave two hundred Pound Bail, for his Appearance at the next Sessions. (Applebee's Original Weekly Journal) Saturday, 13 January 1722 On Wednesday last at Guildhall one Valentine Webb was try’d for assaulting a Man on London-Bridge, with an intent to commit Buggery, and fined 5l. (Daily Post) 4 August 1722 On Friday was se'nnight the Assizes for the County of Surry ended at Kingston, when . . . Thomas Haynes, who was found guilty of Sodomy upon two several Indictments was fin'd 10 Marks on each Indictment, sentenced to stand twice in the Pillory, and to suffer six Months Imprisonment. (The Weekly Journal, or The British Gazetteer) SOURCE: Various newspapers, as noted above. Most of these newspapers were published once a week, on Saturdays, but some were published three times a week. CITATION: If you cite this Web page, please use the following citation: Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Newspaper Reports, 1720-1723," Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. 3 March 2004, updated 5 June 2007 <http://www.infopt.demon.co.uk/1721news.htm>. Return to Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England