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According to a ‘Physician of Bath’, the sexual tastes of eighteenth-century Englishmen were becoming increasingly irregular. After pointing an obligatory finger at all foreigners – and absolving women by asserting that, left to their own inclinations, all they could ever think to do with a man’s mouth would be to kiss it, or rub it with a greasy dish-cloth (?!) – the author proceeds to list the most common peculiar sexual predilections.
While some – ‘The Flogging Cull’ and ‘The Back Door March’ – seem clear enough, my mind is well and truly boggled by some of the others.*
Any ideas, gentle readers? Answers on a postcard, please. Or the comments section at the bottom. Don’t be shy.
The ladies in general, it is said, are averse even to the innocent varieties of love; and never, with their free consent, will act in a direction contrary to the good old established custom. Men, on the other hand, indulge themselves in all the varieties suggested to their imagination, by a depraved and craving appetite.
To excite and exercise the wits, to inform the reverend clergy, to entertain the curious; and, that posterity may not be ignorant, how the irregulars of Venus, at this time of day, contrive to spend their amorous moments, we here subjoin a syllabus of the names of the chief culls, or the letches, said to be most prevalent. If in some cases, an explanation may be thought necessary, and if doubts should arise in the mind of any curious enquirer after truth; we must beg leave to refer such critics to the lady abbesses of Saint Mary-le-bonne, King’s Place, or Covent Garden, where they will not fail to receive the most ample satisfaction.
The Hair Cull – The Oral Cull – The Singing-Bird Cull – Scotch Music – Hand-Insurance, or Turnwrist Plowing – The Hanging Cull – The Pitcher Cull – The Running Cull – The Crying Cull – The Cooking Cull – The Glove, Stocking, and Shoe Cull – The Chicken-bone Cull – The Bawdy Cull – The Frightening Cull – The Flogging Cull – The Ring Cull – The Second-hand Cull, or Hot Rowl and Butter – The Looker-on – The Blown-up Cull – The Sanguinary Desire – The Exquisite – The wilfull Mistake of Ports – The Gomorrah Minuet, or Back Door March.
- A Safe Conduct through the Territories of the Republic of Venus, 1795**
* The word “cull” was usually used in reference to a man, and was commonly applied to those visiting bawdyhouses. Francis Grose gives the following definition: “CULL.- A man, honest or otherwise.”
** For the sake of brevity (and clarity), this passage has been edited down a bit. If you’d like the full version for research just get in touch.
I blush to say that I can work out what a few of these are, but cooking? Really? Oh, well. Must look for my old dictionary of historical slang.
I’d say Hand Insurance / Turnwrist Plowing is what is now known as a “Hand Job” …
You haven’t said which ones you need help with.
However, it appears to me that they are grouped into themes, with variations being next to main idea.
Scotch Music makes me laugh and I think I know what that is being a variation on the Oral Cull
Everything from Hanging Cull to Flogging Cull look like they may be fetishes of the day (notably, the glove, stocking and shoe and I think Pitcher might be urination).
Though it’s interesting to know that the ‘wilful mistake of ports’ is as old as the hills.
Have to admit to being a bit intrigued by “Hot Rowl and Butter”…
Mel, I think that’s what is known these days as “sloppy seconds.”
Heheh, Scotch Music. As in “playing the ol’ bag pipe?”
I think I would understand this a lot better if I knew what “cull” was supposed to mean in this context.
Quite right to point this out – I have updated the post to clarify. It is usually just used as another word for “man”.
“Sanguinary desire” = something re menstruation?
If I’m not mistaken, aren’t those who engage in “wilfull Mistake of Ports” really just the asshole subset of those who prefer “The Gomorrah Minuet, or Back Door March”?
It actually makes me happy that failing to inform your partner of how you were contriving to spend your amorous moments was its own separate depravity worthy of note.
I think it’s interesting that questions and doubts are referred to the lady abbesses where they “will not fail to receive the most ample satisfaction.” Admittedly, I’m not well informed on the extent of the abbesses knowledge, but this surprises me.
I’m pretty sure he’s referring to madams of whorehouses, but being all ironical about it.
Oh Thanks. Just shows my ignorance of the writing of the time.
Cull/cully means a prostitute’s client so the list is not so much a list of actions so much as a list of kinds of client. Some are synonymous with a particular fetish and some are more of a description of the man. For example, a flogging cull is into S&M but a frightening cull is just a horrid client. A chicken bone cull may well be a smaller gentleman. The sanguinary desire may refer to menstruation. Most of the others have been described by other commentators on this blog entry.
Do have a read of ‘A Dictionary of Sexual Language and Imagery in Shakespearean and Stuart Literature’ Gordon Williams, 1994. Although this is about an earlier time, many of the terms are the same.
Most interesting!
The Hair Cull – Could be a foreigner type known to be hairy or one who prefers a hairier bush?
The Oral Cull – one who pays for oral and nothing more?
The Singing-Bird Cull – likes it loud?
Scotch Music – prefers the kink of no undergarments?
Hand-Insurance, or Turnwrist Plowing – Hand job?
The Hanging Cull – a client who’s difficult to get an erection or quite endowed?
The Pitcher Cull – likes a woman to swallow or water sports?
The Running Cull – Likes it standing up?
The Crying Cull – a weak man?
The Cooking Cull – falls in love with and wants to marry the prostitute?
The Glove, Stocking, and Shoe Cull – fetishes?
The Chicken-bone Cull – a lesser endowed man?
The Bawdy Cull – The blunt man who’s up front to the point of embarrassing even the prostitutes?
The Frightening Cull – This man was rough with the girls?
The Flogging Cull – likes S&M?
The Ring Cull – The Married Man?
The Second-hand Cull, or Hot Rowl and Butter – Goes from one prostitute to another?
The Looker-on – The man who likes to watch the girl get off but may not participate himself?
The Blown-up Cull – the disfigured, or maybe injured man?
The Sanguinary Desire – Likes the kink of sex with a woman whose on her period or S&M?
The Exquisite – This man is the one the prostitutes enjoy?
The wilfull Mistake of Ports – anal without informing?
The Gomorrah Minuet, or Back Door March – prefers it anal?
My take based on my own reading and research. It’s a fascinating read.
great post
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Oddly I know a few of these. Please excuse the vulgarity
The Hair Cull: Missionary (default position)
The Oral Cull: Blow Job
The Singing Bird Cull: She’s seated on top
Scotch Music: Tea Bagging
Hand Insurance: Hand job
Running Cull: Standing up from behind
Crying Cull: Cum shot in the face
Chicken Bone Cull: Legs behind the ears
Flogging Cull: Spanking
Second Hand Cull: Tit Fucking
The Looker On: Voyeur
Blown Up Cull: Rim Job
Sanguinary Desire: Cunnilingus during menstration
Back Door March: Anal
Those are the only ones I know unfortunately.
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