Among themselves[35] they had indeed, On Nap’s departure all agreed; For, one of his prodigious sway, ’Twas policy to send away. So Barras, who had such a wise head, Albion’s immediate fall advised. And to send Boney, he thought best, To head the army in the West, Which had a pompous appellation, As ’twas to rouse the English nation; The ‘Army of England’ it was named, Though never for an action famed; They had, indeed, for the occasion, (We mean of the resolv’d invasion), Rafts and Balloons, and ships for diving, And other matters were contriving. The business settled, Barras wrote To his _dear_ Bonaparte a note. ‘Your loving friend now reinstates you, Another victory awaits you-- To Albion’s shores conduct your army, There’s nothing there that can alarm ye; I will each necessary thing lend, That you may sack the Bank of England; On London’s Tower let them see The Standard of French Liberty.’ Some of the Ministers it seems Thought this the maddest of all schemes; Tho’ Barras with fine words embellish’d it-- Not even Mr. Boney relish’d it; And very soon, it must be own’d The project wisely was postpon’d. Thus stood things at the end of 1797, a year which left the public pulse--the Three per Cent. Consols--at 49 (they had, in September, dropped to 47-7/8), and the quartern loaf about eightpence all the year through. CHAPTER IX. CARICATURES ABOUT THE FRENCH INVASION--FOX’S FRENCH PROCLIVITIES--PATRIOTISM IN THE COUNTRY--EXPEDITION TO EGYPT--NELSON’S BLUNDERS--LANDING IN EGYPT--NAPOLEON AS A MAHOMETAN--HIS PROCLAMATIONS. In 1798 the caricatures with regard to the relations between France and England became more numerous, and in this year the personal entity of Napoleon is confessed, and his likeness, a somewhat rough one, but still recognisable, is established. An early one in this year is, the ‘Storm Rising, or the Republican Flotilla in danger,’ Feb. 1798, by Gillray. Fox, Sheridan, the Duke of Bedford, and Mr. Tierney are represented as working a windlass, which is used to pull over the Flotilla. This is represented by a huge raft bristling with cannon; a large fort is in the centre, and minor ones all around which bear flags inscribed ‘Liberty, Atheism, Blasphemy, Invasion, Requisitions, Plunder, Beggary, Murder, Destruction, Anarchy, and Slavery. It is represented as coming from Brest, where the devil is seen dancing on a guillotine, fiddling, and singing, “Over de Vater! over de Vater to Charley!”’ Fox’s coat lies on the ground, together with a paper, a ‘List of the New Republican Ministry. Citizen Volpone (Fox) Premier.’ Their designs, however, are being defeated by Pitt, who as Eolus, is raising a storm, and blowing against the Flotilla, the Admirals Duncan, Curtis, Howe, Gardiner, Trollope, Colpoys, St. Vincent, Seymour, Parker, and Onslow. A somewhat similar idea was worked out in a caricature by Isaac[36] Cruikshank, January 28, 1789.