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 most amusing picture (Gillray, January 1, 1803) is that called
‘German Nonchalance, or the vexation of Little Boney. vide the
Diplomatique’s late Journey through Paris.’ It represents the Austrian
ambassador being driven furiously through Paris, his luggage being
directed ‘à Londres.’
[Illustration:
FROM INDIGENCE IN CORSICA TO AFFLUENCE IN FRANCE.
FROM ASPIRING AMBITION TO THE SUMMIT OF POWER.
FROM CALAIS TO DOVER, WHERE LITTLE JOHN BULL DOES THE CORSICAN
OVER.[69]
]
With the utmost _insouciance_, he is taking a pinch of snuff, calmly
regarding Napoleon, who is standing on some steps, and is in a fearful
rage. With arms and legs outstretched, and his hat fallen off, he yells
out, ‘Ha, diable! va t’en, Impertinent! va t’en! is dere von Man oh
Earth who not worship little Boney? Soldats! aux Armes! revenge! ah!
Sacre Dieu, je suis tout tremblant.’ The soldiers, however, although
preparing to draw their swords, do not appear to be particularly
anxious to avenge their insulted leader.
This incident arose from the Austrian minister neglecting to pay his
respects to the First Consul, whilst passing through Paris.
As an evidence of the uneasiness of public political feeling, take
the following. In January 1803 was published a caricature by Raymond,
called ‘Leap Frog.’ Napoleon has already jumped over the bowed backs of
Holland and Spain. The poor Dutchman exclaims, ‘He has left the Swiss
and Italians a Mile behind--and as for me he has knocked my hat off
and broken my pipe--pretty encouragement this to play at Leap-frog.’
The don ruefully says that ‘By St. Jago--my back is almost broken.’
Napoleon is now jumping over Hanover, who plaintively asks, ‘Why did
I submit to this?’ but the conqueror only says, ‘Keep down your head
Master Hanoverian, my next leap shall be over John Bull.’ But that
individual, who looks uncommonly belligerent, with clenched fists,
exclaims, ‘I’ll be d--d if you do Master Corsican.’
The English Government, seeing how Napoleon was aggrandising himself,
and seeing also that this country, alone, could save the liberty
of Europe, did not hurry to conform with the treaty of Amiens, and
surrender all the advantages gained by the late long struggle; and
although, with reluctance, the Cape, and other Batavian settlements,
were given up, excuses were always to be found for not evacuating Malta.
On January 25, Lord Whitworth and Talleyrand had an interview, and the
latter, after bitterly complaining of the licence of the British press,
which he said ought to be curbed, or suppressed, asked plainly what
were the intentions of the British Government with regard to Malta?
It is to this interview, probably, that the following caricature owed
its existence. How Cobbett lashed Addington, for his nepotism, in his
‘Annual Register’!!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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