Reinhold Rücker Angerstein was a Swedish metallurgist, civil servant, and traveller from a family of ironmasters. In the 1750s he travelled through Europe, including Britain, recording detailed observations on mining, industry, trade, and technology.
Reinhold Rücker Angerstein
R.R. Angerstein's Illustrated Travel Diary, 1753-1755
Trans. T. and P. Berg. Science Museum, London, 2001.
Marylebone pleasure gardens. Upon arrival in St. James's Park, we alighted from the carriage and went to Marylebone to see the amusements put on here for the last time this year, consisting of music, illuminations and fireworks. The entrance fee was 1 shilling and 6 pence. Poles carrying illuminated lanterns bordered the walk around the rotunda. A large number of people were to be seen here, particularly young women and girls, who tried to charm the men present with their clothes and the way they walked. The music was nothing special, and the singing consisted largely of English arias. This lasted until ten o'clock, when a small fireworks display was set off, after which we went home.
The author, from a family of well-to-do ironmasters, had left his native Sweden on what was ostensibly an 'extended duty tour' to study mining. He arrived in London in September 1753 and stayed for several months: not the most obvious place to learn about mining but useful for perfecting his English. Writing two years earlier, Tobias Smollett had said that Marylebone Gardens were 'frequented by the best company in town' (The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle), but one wonders about those female charmers.