Beer, bread and sausages on Hampstead Heath

George Julian Harney was the most internationalist of all the Chartists. On friendly terms with Frederick Engels for more than five decades, and a fervent supporter of French, Polish and German revolutionaries, he used his platform as editor of the Northern Star to support international causes despite the total lack of interest if not hostility of its proprietor, Feargus O’Connor, and spent a great deal of both time and effort in creating the Fraternal Democrats as a forum for the many radical exiles living in the London of the 1840s.

But it was not all work. The European exiles were as keen on social events as their Chartist comrades, and when the summer sunshine offered an opportunity for a picnic, there were plenty of takers. In this report for the Northern Star (6 June 1846), Harney recounts one such occasion. It was clearly more enjoyable than the rather uninformative headline suggests.

Hampstead Heath on a holiday weekend. Illustrated London News, 25 May 1872

The German Democrats

In pursuance of a good old German custom, the members of the “German Democratic Society, for the Instruction of the Working Classes,” took their annual excursion to Hampstead Heath on Sunday last. The day was beautifully fine, indeed such a summer’s day as makes the shade of a green tree, (with a “pot of beer”, german sausages and other et ceteraes) the most perfect realization of Elysium, we mortals are competent to conceive.

The view from Hampstead Heath, with its noble panorama of London, is to take it for all in all, decidedly the finest of any in the neighbourhood of the great metropolis. In a shady knoll the pilgrims pitched their encampment, where they transacted and enjoyed the various duties and pleasures of the day. Immense German sausages, enormous piles of bread, and a jolly-looking butt of beer, almost rivalling the far-famed Heidelburg Tun, were amongst the good things provided for the occasion, and were done ample justice to by the hungry and thirsty souls whose eating and drinking capabilities had been not a little invigorated by their toilsome march from the huge Babel of bricks they had left behind them.

Of course these grosser delights occupied comparatively but little portion of the time. Speeches were made, and such speeches as would have given Ferdinand, Franz-William, and the rest of the gang of German tyrants the belly-ache for twelve months to come could they have heard them. Amongst the speakers were Messrs. Carl Schapper, Pfaender, Bauer, Holme and Julian Harney. Then there was singing of German, French and Italian Liberty-songs, and beautiful the singing was too; the whole concluding with the inspiring Marseillaise.

The society mustered above two hundred strong, but altogether there must have been between three and four hundred persons present, including besides Germans, English, French, Italians, Scandinavians, &c. A considerable number of the wives and sweethearts of the members were present. All conducted themselves soberly and decorously, and altogether the site was one to gladden the hearts and strengthen the hopes of all who believe in the fraternity and progress of mankind.