Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2Grego, Joseph
History
Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2
Grego, Joseph
English wit and humor, Pictorial; Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827
The majority of caricatures published by Rowlandson in 1809 relate,
as we have already said, to the Clarke Scandal. The exposures which
attended this connection, and the action taken by the members of the
Opposition in consequence of the disclosures of abuses of influence
which came out in course of the investigation, occasioned the Duke
of York to resign his office as head of the army, a temporary
concession rendered unavoidable, it appeared, under the circumstances.
The satirical prints put forth to hold up to ridicule the various
compromising revelations which marked the progress of the Parliamentary
examination of witnesses formed a series by themselves. Thomas Tegg who
issued the greater part of these plates, thought proper to bring out a
frontispiece or title-page to the collection, which our artist etched,
for the purpose, on March 27, 1809. The design of this introductory
print is arranged as a screen, on which is the lettering: '_Tegg's
complete Collection of Caricatures relative to Mrs. Clarke, and the
circumstances arising from the Investigation of the Conduct of His
Royal Highness the Duke of York before the House of Commons,_ 1809--'
OUT OF EVIL COMETH GOOD--
Learn to be wise from others' harm,
And thou shalt do full well.
On the ground is a book open at the Commandment, 'Thou shalt not
commit adultery,' and beside lie the Duke's letters to his lady-love,
beginning, 'My darling, dearest dear,' &c. Mrs. Clarke and Colonel
Wardle, the pair made most conspicuous during the enquiry, are
standing on pedestals, placed at either extremity, and drawing back
the curtains. The mitre and crozier of the Duke, as Prince Bishop
of Osnaburgh, crossed by his long sword and the military cocked-hat
appertaining to his official position, as Commander-in-Chief of the
army, form an appropriate trophy, arranged above the proscenium.
_February 15, 1809._ _Dissolution of Partnership, or the Industrious
Mrs. Clarke Winding up her Accounts._ Published by T. Tegg,
Cheapside.--Above the heads of the principal performers in this scene
is engraved the well-known quotation from Gay's 'Beggar's Opera':--
'Tis woman that seduces all mankind;
By her we first are taught the wheedling arts;
Her very eyes can cheat when most she's kind.
She tricks us of our money with our hearts:
For her, like wolves, by night we rove for prey,
And practise every fraud to bribe her charms;
For suits of love, like law, are won by pay,
And beauty must be fee'd into our arms.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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