19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 15
October 24th, 1809. We are at Romford in Essex, after a circuitous journey to throw pursuers off the scent. Our coaches crossed London Bridge as if bound for Dover, but instead we soon left the [more…]
Animals
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 14
October 20th, 1809. Fred is to be hanged on Monday the 23rd – a perilously short date. We have been conferring as to how to contrive his rescue. Jem was in favour of blowing down [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 13
October 18th, 1809. Fred goes up before the judge at the Old Bailey tomorrow, accused of the murder of poor Mr Armitage. We visit him daily in his cell, bringing bribes for the gaoler and [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 12
September 25th, 1809. I write this after our customary afternoon performance, as the scenery is being set up for the opening night of La Vestale. The past few days have been a furious succession of [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 11
September 5th, 1809. It has been a busy month. Our aimless wanderings took us to Guildford, where we have been encamped in a tumbledown barn. The farmer is quite content with our presence, as we [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 10
July 15th, 1809. After our success at Carlton House it would be tempting to expect offers from impresarios of the leading London theatres eager to stage our performance. But we have been – bears and [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 9
June 25th, 1809. We are returned to London. Our journey from Portsmouth was necessarily a slow one, as no stagecoach driver will countenance adding eight bears to his passengers. In any case, Fred deemed it [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 8
May 20th, 1809. We are at sea again – on a merchant ship, Pride of Scunthorpe, under the command of Jonas Swigger, a jovial captain who was more than happy to take us bears and [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 7
May 6th, 1809 We are part of a regular army again, pressing on to confront the French. I must confess that my old bones are aching from the furious pace of our advance. Jem is [more…]