the subcription book in the Pump Room was no longer used for collecting subscriptions from new arrivals to Bath :I do apologise for I should have made this clearer in my post yesterday.I pray you excuse me, and I blame pressure of time and children!

If visitors to Bath wanted tickets to balls and assemblies at either of the two sets of rooms , then they had to apply to either the Lower or Upper Rooms where the tickets were sold.I'm quite sure people did ,like the Allens , buy tickets to both assembly rooms and also to concerts, for the entertainments offered by Bath were one of the principal attractions for being there( if one was not too ill, of course....)

The book at the Pump Room was still used ,however, to indicate, primarily to the Master(s) of Ceremonies, who was new in town.And of course, interested parties like Catherine Moreland took peeks at it...;-)

My copy of the Bath Guide for 1813 states as follows:

A book is placed in the room( the Pump Room -JW) for the reception of the names of the visitors in order to make the MAster of the Ceremonies aquainted with thier arrival and residence, that he may pay the necessary attendance.

pp 50-51.

The attending on visitors by the Master of Ceremonies was a tradition begun by Nash.

The rules of conduct in operation at the Upper Assembly Rooms were, in fact quite detailed and harsh(IMHO).I'll post the most relevant ones later(as they are very long and my fingere need a rest!)but one that is relevant here is that no one can purchase a ticket to the balls and assemblies at the Assembly Rooms without first having entered their names in the book at the Pump Room.P125,BATH Guide,1813)

Im' sure the Master of Cermonies would have checked the book in the Pump Room daily.

An interesting piece of imformation regaring the Upper Rooms is that:

The Bath City Assemblies

The citizens of BAth, not being eligable to subscribe to the Upper Assembly Rooms have, by the permission of the Mayor,the free use of the magnificent banqueting room at the Guildhall, for a ball and the adjoining room for a card assembly,throughout the season.These are held every alternate Tuesday, and are regulated by a committee and a master of the ceremonies.Mr W Ashley is the present MC.
p127.

How very interesting: so one would not meet a citizen of BAth at the Upper Rooms!Im sure there is a fascinating story behind that piece of information...