‘The Corsican Shuttlecock, or a pretty Plaything for the Allies’ (April 10, 1814), is by G. Cruikshank. Napoleon is the shuttlecock, which is kept in the air by Schwartzenberg and Blücher. The former has just sent him to his comrade with--‘There he goes!! why Blücher! this used to be rather a weighty plaything; but d---- me if it isn’t as light as a feather now.’ Blücher replies, ‘Bravo Schwartzenberg, keep the game alive! send him this way, and d---- him, I’ll drive him back again.’ ‘Europe,’ by Timothy Lash ’em (April 11, 1814), gives us a pyramid formed by all the States of that Continent. It is surrounded by clouds, from whence issue the heads of Napoleon’s victims--‘Wright, Georges, Pichegru, Moreau, Palm, and Hofer’--and on the summit of the pyramid, planting the Bourbon flag, is the ghost of the Duc d’Enghien, who hurls Napoleon into hell, where Robespierre and Marat are awaiting him. His operations Nap pursued, And frequently the troops reviewed. One day, the first of April too, Boney attended the review. He thought the soldiers still his own, Tho’ well the contrary was known. Some of the Generals, ’tis said, The Paris newspapers had read, And of the news, before the crowd, They talk’d together very loud. Our hero still retained his cheer, For he pretended not to hear. As soon as the review was done, Brave Marshal Ney (to have some fun, And let him know his fatal doom), Followed poor Boney to his room.-- ‘In Paris there’s a revolution-- You’ve heard of the new constitution.’ Nap, seeming not to understand, Ney clapp’d the paper in his hand; He read, with evident attention, ’Twas gaining time tho’ for invention. Alas, poor Nap! ’tis as he feared-- And like fall’n Wolsey he appear’d. Exactly the same scene indeed-- _There is that paper for you--read: Then with what appetite you can-- Go, eat your breakfast, my good man._ Nap, spite of all, was very cool, Tho’ certainly an _April fool_: But great indeed was his vexation, When bade to sign his abdication; He looked aghast, he sigh’d, and trembled Before the Generals all assembled-- Twas hard on Boney, we must own, Thus to renounce his crown and throne. How could he help it? for--oh Lord! There was a Cossack with a sword! To add to _brave_ Napoleon’s dread, There was a pistol at his head! So very furious look’d the men, Poor Nap could scarcely hold the pen. And when he did, so great his fright, His name poor Nap could scarcely write; At length, while he was sitting down, He sign’d--‘I ABDICATE MY CROWN.’ [Illustration: NAPOLEON SIGNING HIS ABDICATION.]