PHOTO OF BYCULLA CLUB BOMBAY 1850The Oriental Club
was founded in London in 1824, limited
to six hundred members, with the Duke of Wellington as its
first President.
On July 6th, 1826, " Gregarius " writes to the
Bombay Courier advocating a club in Bombay on the model of
the Oriental.
The Bengal Club in Calcutta was projected in
March, 1827,
and the first dinner recorded of that club took
place on July 16th, 1827.
A Bombay Club had been estab-
lished in London in May, 1822
, consisting of members of the
Services who had retired, which, no doubt, was absorbed in the
Oriental.
The clubs which, previous to this time,
had existed
in Bombay had no local habitation. For example,
the Sans
Souci
often held its meetings in Cameron's Tavern, a splendid
hostelry fur its day.
Duncan Cameron died in 1822, and I
fancy the Sans Souci, which has a venerable history, did not
long survive him.
Then there was the Highland Society,
affiliated to the London one. They had no fixed habitation.
Their first dinner was at Parell on May 21st, 1822,
and was a
splendid entertainment, given to the members by Mountstuart
Elphinstone. This club had a chequered existence, and lingered
on till, I think, 1840, when it died of sheer inanition.
The
Saint Andrew's dinner had no corporate existence, but con-
sisted of a miscellaneous crowd drawn from the Caledonians
and their guests year after year. It is now more honoured in
the breach than the observance, and threatens to follow the
Highland Host.
The idea of the BycuUa Club did not take shape until 1832.
On February 1st of that year the
Courier writes : — " A club has
long been considered a desideratum in Bombay, and might be
introduced with great ease now that both the other Presidencies
have led the way." And on September 5th of the same year
the Courier begins an article headed in capitals : —
"Prospectus for the Establishment of a Club in
Bombay. — The example of Bengal and Madras proves that a
general club may be established at all the Indian Presidencies,
and supported on a handsome scale at a very moderate expense."
Theh the writer calculates, from a total of 1,300 belonging to
the Services, and the legal and mercantile men, that if 700
joined it at Es. 70 each, a capital of lis. 49,000 would result ;
and then he adds — " Preliminary steps have been taken. We
have been requested to state that it has been submitted to the
Eight Honourable the Governor and the leading members of
society at the Presidency, and has met with their cordial
approval.
In addition to this, three hundred gentlemen in
and near Bombay have come forward and offered their support,
and a donation, amounting to Es. 8,000, has already been made.
Subscriptions commenced on July 1st, 1832, and the club is
expected to open on January 1st, 1833.*
On July 1st, 1833, we meet with this advertisement, which
is the first occasion the name is mentioned : —
" Byculla Club. — The monthly meeting of the committee
of the club will take place in the club room on Saturday, the
6th inst., at 10 P M. A ballot for the admission of candidates
will be held the same day at 3 p.m. — Club Eoom, July 1st,
1833."
The club as a corporate society was no doubt formed between
July 1st, 1832, and July 1st, 1833. On February 12th, 1833,
a correspondent signing himself " Junglee " asks : " What has
become of the club ? " We will now endeavour to answer that
question from the materials at our disposal. On September 5th,
1832, the reader will see that, so far as the support of the
members was concerned, the club was un fait accompli.
It
was the difficulty in securing premises which caused the delay.
Various sites were suggested, and buildings already existing
were pointed out as suitable for the purpose. Whether it was
to be in the Port or miles away from it, this everlasting question
came up, while as yet the promoters had found no resting-place
for the soles of their feet ; like the dove from Koah's ark, they
fluttered about Byculla, Mazagon, and an impregnable position
within the walls of the Fort.
* Henry Blosse Lynch, 1807-78 ; master attendant Boml-ay dockyard,
1849 ; founder of the
Indian Navy Club
, once famous for its cuisine and its
hospitality to the other Scrvices.
On March 16th a meeting was called of the "Bombay
Club" — so it was called here — and William Newnham was
requested to take the chair. The committee reported that there
was no eligible buildino; in the Fort available.
Then the
" Grove," Mazagon, was talked about at the meeting, but
nothing came of it.
An opinion was expressed that it was too
far for men whose daily duties led them to the Fort.
The rent
was Es. 225, and otherwise it looked a likely place which could
be fitted for the purposes of a club.
This bungalow, erected
one hundred and twenty years ago,
and associated for many
years with the Ashburners,
can still be seen, though some little
alteration has been made in it. Less than the rent named was
taken for it twenty years ago. It is on the Mount Eoad, and
is approached by a long, straight avenue, bordered with rows of
casuarina trees.
It is close adjoining Mazagon Castle, the
oldest inhabited part of Bombay in this direction, for Mazagon
was a place of strength long before we set foot on the island.
Nothing, however, came of the " Grove."
Here we must make a digression, and hark back to 1821.
The BycuUa Eace Stand was built in six months, and was
to be opened on January 1st, 1822.
It was thus elegantly
described in the pages of the
Courier
: — The body of the
building in figure is nearly that of a square, and consists of
a principal floor supported by a rustic basement, from the north
or principal entrance of which is projected a colonnade of the
purest Grecian Doric, surmounted by a tastefully constructed
iron balustrade, which encompasses the balcony on a level with
the principal floor, and with which it immediately communi-
cates by means of a longitudinal range of folding sashes. The
BycuUa Eace Stand contains an assembly room for ladies,
forty-eight feet long, twenty-four broad ; tint of the walls,
maiden's blush ; admirably adapted for dinners and balls on a
limited scale. It is entered from a commodious landing-place,
in the middle having an ante-chamber on each side, which also
communicates with the principal apartment. That it was
found to be limited is evident from an entry under date
February 18th, 1826 : " Ball at Eace Stand unavoidably
abandoned, the limited accommodation of the building being
found inadequate for the purpose." A great number of men
were members of both clubs, and when at their wits' ends
would very likely cast their eye on the Eace Stand buildings.
Be fliat as it may, we have evidence sufficient that
the Turf
Club
made over their interest in the Eace Stand to the Byculla
Club — when, and how, and for what consideration, I know not.
But it does not matter.
In the Courier of January 25th, 1834,
is this notice : " "We
have been requested to notice that though the Mace Stand has
been given up to the Byculla Club, it will be open as usual
during the races to those ladies and gentlemen who wish to
see the running." I have italicised what seems to put beyond
a doubt that the Eace Stand, which still exists as a portion of
the Byculla, had been some time previously made over to it.
The following advertisement may have had reference to this
transference, and may have been one of the " questions of
importance" submitted to the meeting:
"The New Bombay
Turf Club
call a meeting of subscribers in the Club Eoom on
the 14th instant, to discuss questions of importance. Bombay,
June 6th, 1833." The transference of the Eace Stand may be
supposed to be one of those questions.
If this theory of mine
is correct, the Eace Stand built in 1821 was the nucleus of
the Byculla Club Buildings, and still remains as that place
which year after year is graced by the beauty and fashion of
Bombay.
The following notices may be interesting to some members,
and show that the vexed question of the removal of the club
cropped up at intervals during its early years : —
"January 14th, 1837. — Meeting of members of Byculla
Club. Entrance donation reduced to Es. 100 ; the same
received from new members in five monthly instalments of
Es. 20 each."
"January 14th, 1837. — Wanted to rent by the Byculla
Club, a large airy house within the Fort. Tenders to be made
to the Secretary, at the Club House, till 25th instant."
The Courier on January 20th, 1837, remarks : " It is in
contemplation to remove the Byculla Club to the Fort. ... A
comprehensive scheme for increasing the number of members
may then be appropriately termed the Bombay Club."
On
January 30th, an adjourned meeting of the Byculla Club was
held to take into consideration the feasibility of removing the
club into the Fort in Eampart Eow or vicinity.
One of the earliest dinners given by the Byculla Club
was
a magnificent entertainment to Chevalier Ventura,
General of
the army of Runjeet Singh
, at which the Admiral of the Fleet
and the Commander of the Forces were present. This was on
January 11th, 1839;
and on January 1st, 1840, it is noted
that Captain Outram was entertained to dinner by the Byculla
Club, fifty members being present, and J. Pollard Willoughby,
.Esq., in the chair.
The two leading Government servants at
this period were Newnham, Chief Secretary, and Wedderburn,
Accountant-General.
But two unofficial members of the
community were revolving great schemes, and for fifty years
afterwards their names were household words.
William Nicol, arriving fresh from the Marine, about 1822,
threw down the gauntlet to Fortune by essaying the construction
of a
Bombay Bank;*
and John Skinner,t with a splendid
mercantile training in Leghorn, arriving in 1825, distinguished
himself by founding the
Bombay Chamber of Commerce.
It
had its beginning on September 22nd, 1836, in a small meeting
in a room in the Custom House, when a few men met "to
establish a society to be called the Bombay Chamber of
Commerce." These two men were instrumental in mouldinjr
the commercial destinies of Bombay at this period.
* A Cafd. — Preparations are now making to establish a bank at this
Presidency, the general plan of which is similar to the subscription banks
of Great Britain. The CMpital will be ten lakhs of rujifes, divided mto 100
shares of Rs. 10,000 each. The objt-cts of the establishment are quite
unconnected with the performance of mercantile or agency business, and
ihose gentlemen who may be dispof^ed to become subscribers may have an
opportunity of doing so by apphing at the office of Mr. William Kicol, in
Meciows Street, where plans will be shown and every information given. — •
Bombay, September 7th, 1821^
t John Skinner, lato of Leghorn and Gibraltar, and George Ad-fm, late
H.K.I.C.S., this day est-blish themselves in Bomhiv under the firm of i^dam,
SUinner and Co., 30, Medows Street, May 12th, 1825.
BYCULLA CLUB, 1856.
Members of the Managing Committee.
(Elected half-yearly.)
Colonel J. Hale. Dr. E. T. Downes.
Captain Rivers. J. Baumhach, Esq.
F. Chapman, Esq. W. Johnson, Offig. Secy.
Hours for Opening and Closing the House.
The Club House shall be opened for the reception of
members at six o'clock in the morning, and closed at twelve
o'clock at night, after which hour the lights in the sitting rooms
are not to be kept burning.
No supper will be furnished after twelve o'clock. The
lights in the Billiard Eooms are not to be kept burning after
twelve o'clock at night.
No play of any kind shall be allowed
on Sunday.
Smoking
is allowed at half-past eight o'clock from
October 1st to March 31st,
and at nine o'clock from April 1st
to September 30th in the new dining-room.
Eules for the Admission of Guests.
1. — That every member shall be at liberty to entertain one
or more guests every evening at the Club, provided he has given
notice on the previous day to the Steward of the number of the
visitors he is about to introduce.
2. — That every member entertaining a guest at the Club
shall be responsible for the supplies furnished to him and for
all damages done by him.
3. — No strauger, unless he has dined at the Club, shall be
admitted to the Billiard Room, nor will any stranger be allowed
to engage the Billiard Table except through his host or some
other member of the Club.
4. — It shall be competent for the Committee from time to
time to refuse the admission of persons not fitted to be admitted
as quests, or wlio have misconducted themselves as such.
5. — It shall be competent for the Committee from time to
time, by a written order to the Steward, to refuse the right of
introducing guests to any members in arrears to the Club, or
who shall have refused to conform to these rules, or have
introduced improper persons, or otherwise have abused the
privilege of introducing guests.
6. — A book shall be kept, to be called the Visitors' Book, in
which the names of the visitors each day shall be entered, and
of the members introducing them, respectively, and the book
shall be taken to every member introducing a guest, and such
member shall sign his name opposite to that of his guest.
The Managing Committee consider that the rule requiring
the previous notice is one which is absolutely necessary to
preserve ; for, otherwise, the members of the Club may be put
to the greatest inconvenience by an unforeseen number of guests
coming to share in supplies procured for members only.
The Managing Committee are anxious, however, to press the
rule no farther than the necessity which led to its existence
requires, and the Steward has accordingly received orders to
inform any member introducing a guest without the notice
required by Rule 1, whether the guest can be provided with
dinner or not, it being understood that the right of a guest so
introduced to dine at the Club must be subordinate to all the
members present that evening to have their tables in the first
instance properly supplied.
From this most important club, which has bulked so big for
more than fifty years in Bombay society, let us turn by way of
contrast to
Bombay's
smallest club. Mr. Herbert Compton,
not unknown in letters, and a grandson of our distinguished
Chief Justice of the same name, when in Bombay lately
informed me that towards the end of " the twenties " there
existed a club in Bombay which consisted
of only four
members. It was called
" The Deal Table Club,"
and its
presiding genius was Tom Morris, the " John Docherie " of tbe
Sporting Magazine. It was founded on good fellowship and
a basis of economical notions that suited camping out on
shikaring expeditions, Mr. Compton has in his possession an
impression of the seal of this old Bombay club, on which are
portrayed the inevitable deal table, two spears, and •' the mighty
boar."
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