17 April 1834, page 3
The Late John Fuller, Esq.
We regret to announce the death, on Friday last, at his
residence in London, after a tedious illness, of John Fuller,
Esq., of Rose Hill, in this county, aged 78 years. This
gentleman, better known by the name of "Honest Jack
Fuller," represented the county of Sussex during several
successive Parliaments, for a period of more than twenty
years, and was made celebrated by a well-known scene in the
House of Commons, -- when he called the Speaker " a little
insignificant fellow in a wig," -- for which he was committed
to the custody of the Sergeant-at-arms. He was distin-
guished throughout life by much eccentricity, mingled with
a kind heart that displayed itself in actions of princely
munificence: of this his splendid benefactions to the Royal
Institution are only one example.
Mr Fuller died extremely rich. The bulk of his fortune,
consisting of estates in Sussex and the island of Jamaica,
are left to Augustus Elliot Fuller, Esq., brother of Captain
Fuller, R. N., and a nephew of the deceased, as also of Lord
Heathfield. The estates in London are left to Sir Peregrine
Acland, another nephew. Besides which there are very
numerous legacies.
The following anecdote, which may be relied on, of Mr
Fuller, is not generally known. During Mr Pitt's adminis
tration a messenger arrived at Rose Hill with the offer of a
Peerage, on the condition that Mr Fuller should vote in a
particular manner on some question of the day. Mr Fuller,
who at the moment had a large party of friends assembled
at his dinner table, directed the messenger to be ushered
into the dining room to receive his answer. In his presence
and that of his guests, Mr Fuller threw the letter into the
fire telling the messenger at the same time to acquaint the
Minister with the manner in which his offer had been re-
ceived, and adding -- "I was born Jack Fuller, and Jack
Fuller I will die."
The tenants are to meet the funeral at Robertsbridge on
Saturday, and accompany it to the mausoleum built by Mr
Fuller at Brightling, where his remains will be interred.
Mr Fuller stood successfully a severely contested election
with Colonel Sergisson, which lasted sixteen days, and cost
the former 20,000l., in addition to a subscription purse of
30,000l., made by the county. The expences incurred by
Mr Sergisson were, we believe, equally heavy.
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Extract from "Sussex" by S.P.B. Mains
Pages 172-173. First Printed 1929. The Richard Press Ltd.
We turn south here, leaving the Tunbridge Wells-Hastings railway on the east of us, and cross or wander along the valley of the Dudwell, a tributary of the Rother, in order to visit Brightling Beacon (646 feet) and Dallington. The Early English church of Brightling contains a bust of John Fuller, the patron of J.M.W. Turner. There is a fifteenth-century brass and fourteenth century stained glass. On the Beacon Fuller built an obelisk, called the Needle, and an observatory. When he was offered a peerage, Fuller said, "I was born Jack Fuller and Jack Fuller I'll die." He founded the Fullerian professorship and bought Bodiam Castle when it stood in some danger of being destroyed. He had a reputation for swearing in Parliament and once referred to the Speaker as "the insignificant little fellow in a wig." He armed his coachmen and footmen with swords and pistols whenever he drove to London.
Dallington has a stone spire set on its solid church tower, which bears the emblem of the Pelham buckle.
We turn south here, leaving the Tunbridge Wells-Hastings railway on the east of us, and cross or wander along the valley of the Dudwell, a tributary of the Rother, in order to visit Brightling Beacon (646 feet) and Dallington. The Early English church of Brightling contains a bust of John Fuller, the patron of J.M.W. Turner. There is a fifteenth-century brass and fourteenth century stained glass. On the Beacon Fuller built an obelisk, called the Needle, and an observatory. When he was offered a peerage, Fuller said, "I was born Jack Fuller and Jack Fuller I'll die." He founded the Fullerian professorship and bought Bodiam Castle when it stood in some danger of being destroyed. He had a reputation for swearing in Parliament and once referred to the Speaker as "the insignificant little fellow in a wig." He armed his coachmen and footmen with swords and pistols whenever he drove to London.
Dallington has a stone spire set on its solid church tower, which bears the emblem of the Pelham buckle.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Extract from "Highways & Byways in Sussex" by E.V. Lucas
Pages 380-381, Macmillan and Co, Limited 1912
Four miles west of Robertsbridge, up hill and down, is Brightling, whose Needle, standing on Brightling Down, 646 feet high, is visible from most of the eminences in this part of Sussex.
The obelisk, together with the neighbouring observatory, was built on the site of an old beacon by the famous Jack Fuller - famous no longer, but in his day (he died in 1834 aged seventy-seven) a character both in London and in Sussex. He was big and bluff and wealthy and the squire of Rose Hill. He sat for Sussex from 1801 to 1812, and was once carried from the house by the Sergeant at Arms and his minions, for refusing to give way in a debate and calling the Speaker "the insignificant little fellow in a wig." His election cost him £10,000 plus £30,000 subscribed by the county. When Pitt offered him a peerage he said no: "I was born Jack Fuller and Jack Fuller I'll die." When he travelled from Rose Hill to London Mr. Fuller's progress was almost regal. The coach was provisioned as if for arctic exploration and coachman and footmen alike were armed with swords and pistols. ("Honest Jack," as Mr Lower remarks, put a small value upon the honesty of others.) Mr. Fuller had two hobbies, music and science. He founded the Fullerian professorships (which he called his two children), and contributed liberally to the Royal Institution; and his musical parties in London were famous. But whether it is true that when the Brightling choir dissatisfied him he presented the church with nine bassoons, I cannot say.
John Fuller has a better claim to be remembered in Sussex by his purchase of Bodiam Castle, when its demolition was threatened, and by his commission to Turner to make pictures in the Rape of Hastings, five of which were engraved and published in folio form in 1819, under the title Views in Sussex. One of these represents the Brightling Observatory as seen from Rosehill Park. As a matter of fact, the observatory, being of no interest, is almost invisible, although Mr. Reinagle, A.R.A., who supplies the words to the pictures, calls it the "most important point in the scene". Furthermore, he says that the artist has expressed a shower proceeding "from the left corner". Another picture is the Vale of Ashburnham, with the house in the middle distance, Beachy Head beyond, and in the foreground woodcutters carrying wood in an ox waggon. "The whole," says Mr. Reinagle, A.R.A., "is happily composed, if I may use the term." He then adds: "The eye of the spectator, on looking at this beautifully painted scene, roves with an eager delight from one hill to another, and seems to play on the dappled woods till arrested by the seat of Lord Ashburnham." Other picutes in the folio are "Pevensey Bay from Crowhurst Park," a very beautiful scene, "Battle Abbey," and " The Vale of Heathfield," painted from above the road, with Heathfield House on the left, the tower on the right, the church in the centre in the middle distance, and the sea on the horizon: an impressive but not strictly veracious landscape.
In Brightling church is a bust to John Fuller, with the motto: "Utile nihil quod non
honestum." A rector in Fuller's early days was William Hayley, who died in 1789, a zealous antiquary. His papers relating to the history of Sussex, are now, like those of Sir William Burrell, in the British Museum.
Four miles west of Robertsbridge, up hill and down, is Brightling, whose Needle, standing on Brightling Down, 646 feet high, is visible from most of the eminences in this part of Sussex.
The obelisk, together with the neighbouring observatory, was built on the site of an old beacon by the famous Jack Fuller - famous no longer, but in his day (he died in 1834 aged seventy-seven) a character both in London and in Sussex. He was big and bluff and wealthy and the squire of Rose Hill. He sat for Sussex from 1801 to 1812, and was once carried from the house by the Sergeant at Arms and his minions, for refusing to give way in a debate and calling the Speaker "the insignificant little fellow in a wig." His election cost him £10,000 plus £30,000 subscribed by the county. When Pitt offered him a peerage he said no: "I was born Jack Fuller and Jack Fuller I'll die." When he travelled from Rose Hill to London Mr. Fuller's progress was almost regal. The coach was provisioned as if for arctic exploration and coachman and footmen alike were armed with swords and pistols. ("Honest Jack," as Mr Lower remarks, put a small value upon the honesty of others.) Mr. Fuller had two hobbies, music and science. He founded the Fullerian professorships (which he called his two children), and contributed liberally to the Royal Institution; and his musical parties in London were famous. But whether it is true that when the Brightling choir dissatisfied him he presented the church with nine bassoons, I cannot say.
John Fuller has a better claim to be remembered in Sussex by his purchase of Bodiam Castle, when its demolition was threatened, and by his commission to Turner to make pictures in the Rape of Hastings, five of which were engraved and published in folio form in 1819, under the title Views in Sussex. One of these represents the Brightling Observatory as seen from Rosehill Park. As a matter of fact, the observatory, being of no interest, is almost invisible, although Mr. Reinagle, A.R.A., who supplies the words to the pictures, calls it the "most important point in the scene". Furthermore, he says that the artist has expressed a shower proceeding "from the left corner". Another picture is the Vale of Ashburnham, with the house in the middle distance, Beachy Head beyond, and in the foreground woodcutters carrying wood in an ox waggon. "The whole," says Mr. Reinagle, A.R.A., "is happily composed, if I may use the term." He then adds: "The eye of the spectator, on looking at this beautifully painted scene, roves with an eager delight from one hill to another, and seems to play on the dappled woods till arrested by the seat of Lord Ashburnham." Other picutes in the folio are "Pevensey Bay from Crowhurst Park," a very beautiful scene, "Battle Abbey," and " The Vale of Heathfield," painted from above the road, with Heathfield House on the left, the tower on the right, the church in the centre in the middle distance, and the sea on the horizon: an impressive but not strictly veracious landscape.
In Brightling church is a bust to John Fuller, with the motto: "Utile nihil quod non
honestum." A rector in Fuller's early days was William Hayley, who died in 1789, a zealous antiquary. His papers relating to the history of Sussex, are now, like those of Sir William Burrell, in the British Museum.
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Jack Fuller Founds Yeomanry Cavalry Troop, Claims Expenses From the Earl of Egremont
The threat of a French invasion by Napoleon led to the establishment by Jack Fuller of a Yeomanry Cavalry troop in Sussex:
[To the Earl of Egremont]
Captain of Yeomanry Cavalry
36 Devonshire Place 30 Nov 1799
I have enclosed voucher specified in the last letter I had the honour of receiving from you and if you wish either send me a draft or give an order for the payment of same at Messrs Coxes and Greenwood. I shall be much obliged to you.
I have the honour to remain very sincerely faithfully etc
[memo to himself]
received of the Earl of Egremont a draft upon Messrs Coxes and Greenwood for the equipment of my troop consisting of 40 men at 3£ per man making one hundred and twenty pounds.
[To the Earl of Egremont]
Captain of Yeomanry Cavalry
36 Devonshire Place 30 Nov 1799
I have enclosed voucher specified in the last letter I had the honour of receiving from you and if you wish either send me a draft or give an order for the payment of same at Messrs Coxes and Greenwood. I shall be much obliged to you.
I have the honour to remain very sincerely faithfully etc
[memo to himself]
received of the Earl of Egremont a draft upon Messrs Coxes and Greenwood for the equipment of my troop consisting of 40 men at 3£ per man making one hundred and twenty pounds.
The Threat from Napoleon and the Fear of Invasion
God Save the King
OF OLD ENGLAND
Now is the time to shew your love
their country, their religion, who hate the FRENCH and damn the pope
at His rendezvous SHOREHAM
To Able Seamen Five pounds
To Ordinary Seamen Two pounds Ten Shillings
To Landmen Thirty Shillings
Those men who have served as petty-officers and those who are otherwise qualified will be recommended accordingly.
LEWES: PRINTED BY W. AND A. LEE c1800
[William 1747-1830 and Arthur 1759-1824 Lee at 64 High Street]
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