English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I. Volume 1 (of 2)Ashton, John
History
English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I. Volume 1 (of 2)
Ashton, John
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 -- Caricatures and cartoons
A very graphic caricature is ‘Maniac Ravings, or Little Boney in
a strong Fit. Vide Lord W----’s[74] account of a visit to the
Thuilleries.’ Here he is depicted in a fearful state of frenzy; he has
kicked over the consular chair, a globe (with all Europe expunged,
except the British Isles), dashed his hat to the ground, upset a table,
with all his writings on it, broken his sword and scabbard; and, whilst
tearing his hair, stamps frantically on such papers as ‘Wyndham’s
Speeches,’ ‘Cobbett’s Weekly Journal,’ Anti-Jacobin Review,’ ‘Wilson’s
Egypt,’ &c. His ‘Maniac Ravings’ are veritably so. ‘Oh Egypt, Egypt,
Egypt! Oh, St. Domingo, Oh! Oh, the liberty of the English Press!
English Bloodhounds! Wyndham! Grenville! Pitt! Oh I’m murdered! I’m
assassinated!! London Newspapers! Oh! Oh! Oh! Revenge! Revenge! come
Fire! Sword! Famine! Invasion! Invasion! Four Hundred and Eighty
Frenchmen! British Slavery and everlasting Chains! everlasting Chains!
O Diable! the Riches! Freedom! and Happiness of the British Nation!
Ah! Diable, Diable, Diable! Malta! Malta! Malta! Oh, cursed Liberty of
the British Press! Insolence of British Parliament! Treaty of Amiens!
Damnation! British trade and commerce! Oh! Oh! Oh! English calumniating
Newspapers! Oh, Sebastiani! Sebastiani! Oh, Georges! Arras! de Rolle!
Dutheil! O Assassins! Treason! Treason! Treason! Hated and Betray’d
by the French! Despised by the English! and laughed at by the whole
world!!! Oh, English Newspapers!!! English Newspapers!!!! English
Newspapers!!!!!’
Woodward drew a picture (May 1803) of ‘A great Man Intoxicated with
Success,’ and depicted Boney with a very ‘how came you so?’ expression
of countenance, reeling along, and saying, ‘Ah Johnny Bull, how are
you my Boy--I am going to re-establish slavery--I am grown very Pious.
I--I--I’ll double my guards. I--I--I don’t know what I’ll do.’ John
Bull is utterly astonished at such conduct. ‘Why, bless your heart, my
fine fellow, you be Muzzy--I dare say you find it difficult to stand.
Now, let me advise you--take a little Nap--if it’s only for a quarter
of an hour, you can’t think how much it will refresh you.’
Another caricature, apparently by Woodward, was published in May
1803, ‘Bonaparte and the Quaker.’ Bonaparte’s attitude is decidedly
aggressive and bullying: ‘So they are all Great Men in your Country,
eh!--but I suppose they are like you--not very fond of fighting--is not
that the case Master Quaker?’ Brother Broadbrim replies, ‘Little Man,
it is not the case. I myself encourage not fighting. But if thou, or
any of thy Comrades, darest to cross the great waters, my Countrymen
shall make _Quakers_ of you all.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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