M&D - Chapter 19-21 - p. 190 - on Macclesfield

[David Ewers]

You faid it!

On Mar 29, 2015, at 1:34 PM Jolly good day we are having, Elisabeth Romberg wrote:

> Those s’s… sounds funny when you read the text aloud in your head. Good job TP chose not to adopt them in M&D!
> 
> 
>> 29. mar. 2015 kl. 22.30 skrev David Ewers <dsewers at comcast.net>:
>> 
>> Thanks!  
>> 
>> Here's something I found:
>> https://books.google.com/books?id=SSsPAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=george+macclesfield&source=bl&ots=kPnXUt1wjd&sig=ju_tHE6LJx3C4uquGBFyclJvSPs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=K14YVdvCF8fmoAT4zoD4Cg&ved=0CDsQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=george%20macclesfield&f=false
>> 
>> The first paragraph is interesting in light of Macclesfield's lament on page 194 (regarding the stars),"They betray us not, nor ever do they lie, --"
>> 
>> The rest of it is pretty interesting too...
>> 
>> On Mar 29, 2015, at 11:36 AM have a nice day, violet wrote this message:), Elisabeth Romberg wrote:
>> 
>>> WELCOME TO THE GROUP READ CHAPTERS 19-21 - ON MACCLESFIELD
>>> 
>>> Place: The pub :)
>>> Those present: Mason, the Rev’d, the landlord, Mr. Swivett, Mr. Hailstone (so far)
>>> Topick of conversation: Bradley
>>> 
>>> Mason was Bradleys assistant. Bradley in turn was ‘in' with Macclesfield «and that gang» (who «stole eleven days right off the calendar»).
>>> 
>>> The way Macclesfields character is portrayed later on in the chapter (not very good), fueled a quick background search.
>>> 
>>> George Macclesfield, or «Viscount Parker» as he was styled, started off as a member of parliament. He was a RC member from 1722 (age approx. 25) and the president from 1752 (age approx. 55).
>>> 
>>> From 1750, however, Macclesfield also held an «honorary position» namely vice president at the Foundling Hospital. A «charitable institution (…) dedicated to saving London’s abandoned children». *Small alarm bells goes off*
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Parker,_2nd_Earl_of_Macclesfield
>>> 
>>> I am reminded of  the resent case in England, Jimmy Savile - politically and royally connected - who also had «honorary positions» at hospitals, including children’s hospitals. This included his own keys to the facilities, and even his own quarters at the hospital.
>>> http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28021488 (One of countless links to this case. I chose this because of the photographs of Leeds General infirmary - built 1771 - and Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital - built early 1800s)
>>> 
>>> Not that there is a connection between Macclesfield and Savile obviously, but more intuitively following up on the theme master/slave - abuser/abused sort of theme. Please be critical of this.
>>> 
>>> Foundling («Foundling» = an abandoned child) hospital was founded in 1741. The term «hospital» is not really a correct one. "The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply indicating the institution's "hospitality" to those less fortunate» (which when older basically became hired out help - cheap labour, slaves - chimney climbers).
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundling_Hospital
>>> 
>>> So, was there any evidence of suspect stuff going on at the Foundling?
>>> Not according to wikipedia which only lists the abuse of one woman who received servants from Foundling: Elizabeth Brownrigg. 
>>> http://georgianlondon.com/post/49464106001/suffer-the-little-children I’m sure this was not an isolated case, just a very public one, that ended in a public hanging (and dissection) of Brownrigg.
>>> 
>>> A wider search didn’t really find anything conclusive, but there seems to have been some cases of abuse at the «hospital» «To put it bluntly, these were simple cases of abuse of power, in terms of class, sheer physical overpowering strength, or deceitfulness on the part of the perpetrator.» 
>>> https://books.google.no/books?id=Rxheh32O7r8C&pg=PT240&lpg=PT240&dq=london+foundling+hospital+sexual+abuse&source=bl&ots=l2PmeN8bsE&sig=EZivxQ-An4StA7UbdX6CZHom8ps&hl=no&sa=X&ei=ZEAYVe_FOImAUY7pAQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=abuse&f=false
>>> 
>>> There are several books written on the subject, but it seems Foundling has maintained a pretty solid reputation. This could of course also be due to the fact that «Gregorian courts refrain from discussing sexual abuse.»
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20150329/759069f3/attachment.html>