Galt, Gog and Magog

The History of Gog and Magog, the Champions of London by Robin Goodfellow.  A children’s book, it was written by John Galt and published in 1819 by J Souter of London.  Galt wrote under several pseudonyms, especially his text books and children's books.

Guildhall, London - source

While many people will associate the name Gog of the land of Magog with the Bible in Ezekiel, Chapter 38, there were many other ancient myths and legends about the characters.  Gog and Magog’s mythical association with London dates back to the writings of Geoffrey of Monmouth which seem to have inspired John Galt’s tale for children, as well as other works.  Gog and Magog were said to have been legendary giants, who lived in a castle on the site of London’s Guildhall.

Two large statues of Gog and Magog are displayed in the Guildhall in London and are paraded each year in the Lord Mayor’s Show.  The present statues date 1953, from but statues of these characters have been connected with London for many centuries.  The first wooden carvings were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and were replaced.  Later representations were destroyed in the Blitz during WWII.  Read more about the Guildhall carvings here.

John Galt weaves the legendary characters into a tale about giants, princesses, battles to save the city, with a little bit of the history of London thrown in for good measure.  Galt’s tale ends –

“The renowned, the munificent, the courageous, Gog, and Magog, are gone.  But their spirit will never die, it will enter into the hearts of all good citizens.”  

There was probably a reason why Galt wrote this tale under the name of Robin Goodfellow.  That name has an interesting history in British folklore, being linked with a mischievous spirit.  Shakespeare used the name in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Puck.  In 1628 a tract was published called The Mad Pranks and Merry Jests of Robin Goodfellow.

John Galt and the Coronation of George IV

John Galt was in London at the time of the Coronation of George IV in July 1821 and gave a very down-to-earth account of the proceedings in Literary Life and Miscellanies. 

George IV

“The instant that the performance was finished, the spectators all rose and became as fluent in their talk as the scattering audience after a state play; no vestige of solemnity remaining, if during the exhibition they experienced any.”

Galt goes on to describe the free-for-all that took place after the official ceremony and coronation dinner. 

“If anything were calculated to inspire laughable contempt for the melodrama of earthly grandeur, it was the hurly-burly in Westminster Hall subsequent to the King’s departure.  I can neither repress my derision at the commotion, nor conceive why it was permitted, though “the swinish multitude” were in court dresses.  But there is a stronger infection in folly than in wisdom, and, though I despised the pastime, I could not resist joining in the game.  In the plunder of the tables I got hold of a golden Britannia as big as a doll, with which I made proud a Bishop’s lady and gave to another “gorgeous dame” of high degree, a really beautiful basket of crystal, and bestowed gilded vessels on longing ladies.  But what added to the delight was the discovery that all the magnificence was as artificial as courtesies!  The goblets and imagery, the plates and epergnes, at the coronation festival of the greatest monarch on the earth, were gilded wood and pewter trenchers!  This, however, was wise, and showed the improved intelligence, alias the political economy of the age; but wherefore cheat the eye?  At the time, the coronation afforded me inconceivable pleasure, for I could only see things, bating the occasion, worthy to provide heart-easing laughter; the remembrance, however, like many other sweets, sours in the rumination.  It did more to lessen my respect for the tricks of state than anything I ever witnessed."

Newspaper report about the events.

In The Steamboat, published in 1821 in instalments in Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine and in book form in 1822, John Galt describes the coronation through the eyes of his main character, Thomas Duffle who travelled from Glasgow to London to see the event.  Mr Duffle takes his place in the grandstands to witness the arrival of the lords and ladies attending the King and then the arrival of King George IV himself - 

“who entered with a marvellous fasherie, as I thought it, of formalities … for I could see he was now and then like to lose his temper at the stupidity of some of the attendants.  But it’s no new thing for kings to be ill served; and our Majesty might by this time, I think, have been used to the misfortune, considering what sort of men his minister are.”

 Again in The Steamboat, the aftermath of the ceremony are described.  After the King and nobles leave, the general company were invited to come and enjoy the leftovers!  Or as Galt puts it:-

“But the best part of the ploy was after his Majesty had retired, for, when he departed, everyone one, according to immemorial privilege, ran to plunder the table”, including Mr Duffle, who “was content with a piece of a most excellent bacon ham, and a cordial glass or two of claret wine, and a bit seed-cake.” 

John Galt had a wonderful eye for detailing the absurd and seeing through the conventions and characters of his day.