Why I love our monarchy. Common Sense Revisited

I, like millions of others, watched the royal wedding yesterday...and loved it.

BUT...amidst all the celebration there have been dissenting voices from friends, blogs, comments, newspaper articles, radio shows etc. complaining about the cost, the monarchy’s role, and the wasted manpower.  I feel quite passionate in favour of our monarchy, so I need to share my thoughts on why I think they deserve our support.

  

Common Sense

In 1776 Englishman Thomas Paine (1737-1809) wrote a political pamphlet called Common Sense which changed the world.  Paine brilliantly wrote about the tyranny of British power in America and the urgent need for the colonies to unite against their king.  His arguments were powerful.  This power came from the fact that he was highlighting an abusive and unjust  system - the Monarchy and government of Great Britain.

  

He called for Americans to “oppose not just the tyranny but the tyrant”,  and that is exactly what America did.  In that first year Common sense went through 25 editions; soon there was a copy for one in every five people in the American colonies.   They began to believe Paine’s words that 

...we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest, purest constitution on the face of the earth.  We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

If I had been living in 1776 I would have raised my voice alongside Paine’s.   What he wrote was common sense.   If you read our British history it does not take long to equate British monarchs with oppression, cruelty, inequality, tyranny, civil wars and rebellion. 

Whoooaaa there nelly.   

Did I not say I was in favour of the monarchy?  So far it sounds like I’d be more suited to teaming up with Guy Fawkes or enlisting in Cromwell’s model army!    Am I stuck with my inbred ‘royalist’ blinkers or, as Paine put it:

The prejudice of Englishmen, in favour of their own government by king, lords, and commons, arises as much or more from national pride than reason.  

Common Sense Revisited 

I do not deny our Monarchy has a colourful past.  

I do not deny that our current Monarch has amassed a great fortune & incredible privileges from the blood and sweat of my forefathers.

I do not deny that modern royals have made mistakes. 

Recent case in point: how on earth did Princess Eugene and Princess Beatrice get it into their heads that their wedding outfits were suitable?   In fact...suitable is not the word.   Wearable is a better choice. Did Will and Kate play a practical joke on them and tell them it was fancy dress?  What on earth was that pipe cleaner creation on her head?

And someone should have had the foresight to seat them anywhere else but right behind the Queen.  Every shot of our Monarch included a shot of the two ugly sisters behind her.  (In fairness....they are not ugly, but their costumes were hideously so.)

In double fairness, Royals were not the only ones to commit scary fashion statements.  Even with my limited fashion sense I was surprised at some of  the ‘things’ women choose to put on their heads.  Are they trying to provide comic relief?   Some of them looked like misplaced satellite dishes or failed junior school art creations.   

To get back on track.   

I believe that those who slander our current Monarchy do not understand how it works or what its worth is to our nation.  I work as a professional tourist guide and witness its pulling power on the front lines. We are not dealing with the same monarchy that Thomas Paine was fighting against.   Same lineage, but a dramatically different package.  Whereas I would have gladly joined ranks with Paine in 1776, I would object whole heartedly to such remarks in 2011.   

But still I hear those dissenting voices asking how can I justify the cost of the wedding and the cost of the Monarchy’s existence?

How Much???!!!!

Anyone can tell that the dress, the flowers, the invites, the receptions, the army, the security, etc. etc.  would have cost millions.  I’ve already told my daughters not to expect their weddings to be on such a grand scale.  We probably won’t have as many horses.

Lots of statistics have been thrown about.  On the con side of things there have been protests about the cost of the wedding and the lost revenue due to a national holiday.    On the pro side there are arguments that things like increased tourism, and extensive merchandising have benefited.

Many arguments against the Monarchy show a lack of understanding of how the Monarchy is funded.  Consider this:

The Crown Estate

Since 1760 the monarchy gave most of its traditional revenues to Parliament.   This is the Crown Estate made up of properties, land, forest and foreshore worth over £6 billion.   The annual revenue (around £230 million) from this goes into the Treasury.   This income does NOT belong to the Sovereign.  In return parliament pay £7.9 milllion for the civil list which covers the Royal Household expenses (70% on staff salaries).   This helps cover the cost of garden parties, receptions, official entertainment during State Visits.  The Queen entertains around 50,000 people each year!!   The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are the only Royals who receive payment from this.

Privy Purse.  

The Queen does own the Duchy of Lancaster with is the personal, inherited property of the monarch worth £300 + million, and providing an annual surplus of about £10 million.  And yes, the Queen pays tax on this.  This income is used primarily to meet the expenses of other Royals.

The Prince of Wales has a similar income from the Duchy of Cornwall estates.  The Duchy is tax exempt, but the Prince of Wales voluntarily pays income tax (about 40%) on his taxable income.

Last year (2010) the Palace determined that the Queen and the Royal family cost each taxpayer a grand sum of 62p a year.   Yes....62p.    An investment I am more than happy to pay, and which can hardly be called a great burden on any British family.

(Full reports on Royal finances can be viewed on the official website of the British Monarchy at www.royal.gov.uk  )

How much did the Queen pay for the wedding?  How much did the Prince of Wales put in?  And how about the Middletons?  And what came from the taxpayer’s pocket?  You know what.... I don’t care.  That must sound totally irresponsible of me.  Granted, if an official breakdown was released I’d be one of the first wanting to read it, but in the big scheme of things I understand that whatever the cost the return to us as a nation far outrides that cost. 

And in return...

So what do I get for my 62p investment?

• A Royal family that is involved with over 3,000 organisations either as patron or president.
• The Queen has over 600 patronages.
• The Duke of Edinburgh has over 700 patronages.
• The Prince’s Charities - a group of not-for-profit organisations of which the Prince of Wales is President.  18 of the 20 Charities were founded by The Prince.
• Fantastic Royal Palaces that are not only beautifully maintained & preserved, but are still lived in by Royalty.  Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Holyroodhouse, Balmoral Castle, Sandringham House, 
• The Queen also owns a set of former Royal residences and are run by an independent charity known as Historical Royal Palaces:  The Tower of London, Hampton court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.  These are stunning historical properties which draw in millions of visitors.
• The Royal Collection is a stunning collection of art and artefacts many of which are on public display around the country.
• Two young princes who not only take pride in serving in the armed forces, but are quite prepared to be put on the front line like any of their colleagues.
• A family who are constantly on the go making our country a better place to live in.  They are at the forefront of encouraging, hosting and administering. 
• They delight and entertain politicians and ambassadors from around the world.  Other countries have to create Ambassadors of goodwill and hospitality whereas we have ours all included in the price. 
• In and of themselves they are the biggest tourist attraction in our country.  Even though tourists rarely see a royal at any of the palaces or the Changing of the Guard their presence holds a deep fascination and pull. 
• A wedding service yesterday that was faith promoting and enthralling. 
• A national treasure that appeals to old and young.  

But more than all of the above... the Royal family provide 

• A pride in my Britishness.
• A connection to my heart.
• A stirring in my soul.
• A smile on my face

That is 62p well spent.

Yesterday's wedding celebration was not mass hysteria or media hype?  

This was a national day of rejoicing.  And if you don’t get it... well, I feel sorry for you. 

 “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”

St. Catherine of Siena

quoted by the Bishop of London in the Wedding service.

Sources:

Liell, Scott.  46 Pages.  Thomas Paine, Common Sense, and the Turning Point to Independence.   MJF Books, New York, 2003. 

Paine, Thomas.   Common Sense. 1776.

www.royal.gov.uk

Preston - Richard Arkwright

Richard Arkwright was one of the most important figures in the industrialisation of Britain. 

He was born in Preston on the 23 December 1732 - the youngest of thirteen children, and for a while he lived in this house located in Stoneygate in Preston

Arkwright House, Preston

Behind the tree!

I like the following descriptions of him.  The writer/ historian Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) wrote:

“Richard Arkwright, it would seem, was not a beautiful man, no romance hero with haughty eyes, Apollo lip and gesture like the herald Mercury; a plain, almost gross, bag-cheeked, pot-bellied, Lancashire man, with an air of painful reflection, yet also of copious free digestion; a man stationed by the community to shave certain dusty beards in the northern parts of England, at a halfpenny each. .....Nevertheless, in strapping of razors, in lathering of dusty beards, and the contradictions and confusions attendant thereon, the man had nothings in that rough head of his; spindles, shuttles, wheels and contrivances plying ideally within the same.....His townsfolk rose in mob around him, for threatening to shorten labour, to shorten wages, - so that he had to fly, with broken wash-pots, scattered household, and seek refuge elsewhere. Nay, his wife, too, as I learn, rebelled; burned his wooden model of his spinning wheel, resolute that he should stick to his razors rather, for which however, he decisively, as thou wilt rejoice to understand, packed her out of doors. O reader, what a historical phenomenon is that bag-cheeked, pot-bellied, much enduring, much inventing barber!.....it was this man that had to give England the power of cotton.” (Hardwick, p 372)

R.S. Fitton (biographer) wrote of him:

The founder of the factory system, he was the creator of a new industrial society that transformed England from a nearly self-sufficient country with an economy based on agriculture and domestic manufacture, into the workshop of the world.” (Hunt 143)

And Arkwright certainly made a pretty penny out of the process. A 1785 newspaper reported:

It is remarkable that the great mechanic, Arkwright, was a barber and a few years ago shaved for a penny. His astonishing machine brought him one year a revenue of £70,000, and though he has lowered his prices to crush his rivals, his profits are yet between £40,000 and £50,000 a year. Universal Daily Register, January 1785

In today's money that would be equivalent to a revenue of £7 million and profits of £4 to 5 million plus. In a period of a few short years he shot to one of the world's wealthiest men. The brilliant Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) described his inventions as having been productive of greater commercial advantages to this country, and contributed more to the general benefits of mankind in so short a period than any other single effort of human ingenuity. (Aspin, p. 5)

His impact on the industrial world was incredible. Others called the machines 'Stupendous' 'magick'. And it was not just a case of the machines being so much faster they also produced a thread that was "a many times stronger and leveller". This uniform quality of yarn made the weaving so much finer and sought after.

If you'd like a tour of Arkwright's Preston and the cotton industry of Preston why not give us a call.

The Surprising Trio

Lancaster's Catholic Cathedral has a trio of surprising characters.

First up is Henry VIII.  You'd hardly expect the King who broke the ties with Rome to be featured in a Catholic stained glass window, but there he is. The reason he's there is because of his connection with some of the Catholic martyrs who suffered under his leadership.

Second is a statue of Judas Iscariot - the traitor who betrayed the Saviour.  You can see him in the middle of this scene pointing to Jesus.

And finally, is King Herod - he who slaughtered the innocent children in the hopes that he would kill the baby Jesus.  He is the figure on the left with his foot on a baby.

This stained glass is quite fittingly placed at the entrance to the baptistry - a place for innocence and rebirth.

If you fancy a tour of the Cathedral or the religious heritage of Lancaster just let us know.  There is so much to see all around the city.

Lancaster Cathedral

Our religious heritage has so much depth that I continue to be amazed, enthralled, impressed, intrigued, etc. etc.  Our Tourist Guide group recently had the chance for an enlightening visit to Lancaster's Catholic Cathedral.

For centuries Catholics kept a reasonably low profile which is illustrated by this photo of a previous Catholic church in Lancaster.  The church is the one behind the tree.  It looks like a house!

But the new Lancaster Cathedral  (built 1857-59) made a very bold statement on Lancaster's landscape.  Catholicism was here and was here to stay. 

The interior of the church is full of beautiful stained glass, statues and masonry. 

I recommend a visit.  Guided tours available.  In fact, Lancaster is full of religious buildings and we'd be happy to take you around the streets of Lancaster for a Sacred Places tour.

Have you visited Gawthorpe Hall?  Lancashire has its fair share of stately homes, and this one, located near Burnley, deserves a visit. 

It is not a massive home, but there is plenty to keep you interested.  Some of the ceiling decorations are real works of art, plus there is a nice Bronte connection.   

One thing that definitely deserves a mention is the international collection of needlework.  Coming from a man that might sound a bit of an airy-fairy thing to say, but the exhibition really is worth looking at.  The range and historical depth of the collection is wonderful.  If you get a chance to get a group together you can also arrange to see some of the material from the archives.  It costs a bit more to do this, but I consider it worth the extra pennies.

If you fancy a visit and a tour around this area why not book a guided tour.  Contact Peter Fagg on 01257 249750.

A forgotten bridge

This image shows the old bridge connecting Preston to Penwortham.  The modern, multi-laned bridge is just a short way downriver  from here, and carries hundreds of cars every day whereas this old bridge is now pedestrianised and carries only people, cyclists and a few prams.

In its heyday this was a vital link across the River Ribble, but now most people driving by on the new link don't even know it is there.
If you fancy a tour around this oft forgotten part of Preston and Penwortham just let us know.  Call 01257 249750   or peterf@btconnect.com

Preston: Alexander Neibaur - Brigham Young's dentist!!

Back in 1837 Old Cock Yard in Preston was lined with residential buildings; one of which was home to Alexander and Ellen Neibaur.  Alexander had a number of skills up his sleeve, but his most noted was that of being dentist to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young the Mormon prophets.   His story began across the channel...

Jewish heritage
Alexander Neibaur (1808-1876) was born in Ehrenbriesten, France (now Germany). He was born into a high class Jewish home - his father, Nathan Neibaur, was a physician, surgeon and linguist. Nathan and his wife Rebecca had hoped their son would become a Rabbi, but when Alexander turned 17 he chose to become a surgeon and dentist. After graduating from the University of Berlin (1823-1826), he converted to Christianity and moved to Preston where he met Preston-born Ellen Breakel (daughter of Richard and Alice Bannister Breakel both born in Longton, Lancashire). On 15 September 1834 Alexander and Ellen married and settled in Old Cock Yard.

Old Cock Yard, Preston

Dreamer of Golden Bibles and Angels
It was in this home that Alexander had a dream about a golden bible and an angel. The meaning of the dream eluded him, but one day he heard Ellen talking to a neighbour about some American missionaries preaching about angels and a new bible. Alexander felt sure this was the answer to his unusual dream and tracked the Elders down.  He found they were missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed Mormons or LDS) who had arrived in Britain in July 1837.  The interpretation of Alexander's dream soon became clear, and he was baptised in the River Ribble on April 9, 1838 by Isaac Russell, one of the Mormon missionaries. Alexander was probably the first Jew to become a member of the restored gospel. Ellen also joined after she had a dream. They emigrated from Liverpool to Nauvoo, Illinois on 7 February 1841 on board the ship Sheffield along with their three children (age 6, 5 and 2) and another due in May.
Nauvoo was the main home of the Mormon church prior to their trek west to Utah.

Dentist to the Prophets
Alexander’s dentistry skills were in great demand in Nauvoo where he advertised his practice in the Times and Season (the Nauvoo newspaper):

Alexander Neibaur - Surgeon Dentist

From Berlin, in Prussia, late of Liverpool and Preston, England

Most respectfully announces to the ladies and gentlemen and the citizens of Nauvoo as also of Hancock county, in general, that he has permanently established himself in the city of Nauvoo, as a dentist, where he may be consulted, daily , in all branches connected with his profession, Teeth cleaned, plugged, filed, the Scurva effectually cured, children’s teeth regulated, natural or artificial teeth from a single tooth to a whole set inserted on the most approved principle Mr. N. having had an extensive practice both on the continent of Europe, as also in England, for the last 15 years, he hopes to give general satisfaction to all those who will honor him with their patronage.

Mr. B. Young having known Mr. N. (in England) has kindly consented to offer me his house to meet those ladies and gentlemen who wish to consult me. Hours of attendance form 10 o’clock in the morning, to 6 at evening. My own residence is opposite Mr. Tidwell, the cooper, near the water. Ladies and gentlemen attended at their own residence, if requested.

Charges strictly moderate.              August 2, 1841 - Times and Seasons Vol. 2, p. 502 Also in: August 16, p. 513, September 1, p. 534; September 15, p. 550; October 1, p. 566;

You will note in the above ad that he set up his dentistry practise in Brigham Young’s Nauvoo home. Brigham and Alexander had met in Britain in 1840 when Brigham was also serving a mission to England, and worked on the streets of Preston.   Alexander went on to become the dentist to Brigham’s family and many other well known church leaders… including Joseph Smith the original Mormon prophet.  Joseph Smith had been attacked at the Johnson farm near Kirtland, Ohio, and a mob attempted to make him swallow poison and cracked his tooth in the process. Thereafter Joseph had a slight whistle when he spoke. Alexander, as Surgeon Dentist, worked on Joseph’s teeth and tried to correct that whistle.

Tutor of the Prophet
Alexander had knowledge of seven languages, namely English, French, German, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Spanish. While in Nauvoo he tutored the Prophet Joseph Smith in both German and Hebrew.

“Joseph the Prophet stayed at home to recite German with Brother Neibaur”      Church History - July 18, 1843.

He also holds the distinction of being the author of one of the few journal accounts of the First Vision which recounts Joseph Smith's divine instruction to 'restore' the Saviour's church.   The Neibaurs were in Nauvoo when Joseph and and his brother Hyrum were murdered and became actively involved in the defense of Nauvoo and the resulting exodus to Salt Lake.

Descendants
Alexander and Ellen had 14 children.  Joseph (1835), Margaret (1836), Samuel (1838), and Isaac (1839) were all born in Preston. Alice (1841), Bertha (1842), Hyrum (1844), and Leach (1846) were all born in Nauvoo. Rachel (1847) was born and died in Winter Quarters, Nebraska. The last five children, Sarah (1849), Rebecca (1851), Mary (1852), Matilda (1854) and Nathan (1855), were all born in Salt Lake City. Samuel, Rachel and Mary all died as children, but the remaining eleven lived to ages between 40 and 96.

Alexander died in Salt Lake City on December15, 1883 aged 75.

Today thousands of shoppers pass by the opening of Old Cock Yard without so much as a glance into its dark, dingy and dank interior. Little do they know that here once lived a man of dreams, a Jewish linguist, and a dentist of unusual distinction.

Sources
Bassett, Theda Lucille. Writing Between the Lines. Publishers Press, 1997
Davidson, Karen Lynn. Our Latter-day Hymns. Deseret Book, 1988
Garrett, Dean (Ed). Regional Studies in LDS History: Illinois
Givens, George. In Old Nauvoo. Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, 1990
Regional Studies, Ohio, Ogden - The Kirtland Hebrew School, p. 81-82
The Utah Genealogical and Historical magazine, April 1914., pp. 56-6