This being the day of His Majesty's happy accession to the throne, there will be given by Mr. Doggett an Orange Colour Livery with a Badge representing Liberty to be rowed for by Six Watermen that are out of their time within the year past. They are to row from London Bridge to Chelsea. It will be continued annually on the same day forever.
—From a 1715 proclamation on the first anniversary of the accession of George I
Under the somber loom of London Bridge last week, six long-muscled watermen bent to their oars in...
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