So my new historical obsession is political societies started by aristocratic youth at English universities. Check this one out..

Young England

An uber-Tory society dedicated to Absolute Monarchy with a strong church (quasi Feudalism) and general "None of this Victorian malarky, get me back to the good old days." Very similar to the Earl of Gurney (played by Peter O'Toole in the film) in Ruling Class, when he thinks he's Jack the Ripper and is bringing antiquated (even for a Victorian) political views into the peerage of the 1970s.

This parody struck me as wonderful:


Oh! Flog me at the old cart's tail!
I surely should enjoy
That fine old English punishment
I witnessed when a boy!
I should not heed the mocking crowd,
I should not feel the pain,
If one old English custom
Could be brought back again.

Noteworthy and fascinating still is the fact that an 18 year old Edward Oxford (who was by no means aristocratic) was a junior member of Young England when he attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria in the park. He was aquitted for being of unsound mind (quite ironically, considering the society's views on the death penalty and treason). I absolutely adore this letter written to him which surfaced during his trial,


YOUNG ENGLAND, Nov. 14, 1839.
SIR, -- I am very glad to hear that you improve so much in your speeches. Your speech the last time you were here was beautiful. There was another one introduced last night by Lieutenant Mars, a fine, tall, gentlemanly-looking fellow, and it is said that he is a military officer, but his name has not yet transpired. Soon after he was introduced we were alarmed by a violent knocking at the door; in an instant our faces were covered, we cocked our pistols, and with drawn swords stood waiting to receive the enemy. While one stood over the fire with the papers, another stood with lighted torch to fire the house. We then sent the old woman to open the door, and it proved to be some little boys who knocked at the door and ran away.
A. W. SMITH, Secretary.
You must attend on Wednesday next.
"Addressed -- 'Mr Oxford, at Mr Farr's, Hat and Feathers, Goswell Street.'

Brilliant. They had great false names too. (the branch Edward Oxford belonged to, that is.)

LIEUTENANTS
Hercules
Neptune
Mars
Albert



Its almost too good to be true.

Sources: wikipedia (Young England, Queen Victoria and Edward Oxford) and The Newgate Calendar