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
Mrs. Clarke is seated on a 'rickety chair,' with a 'Morocco bottom;' at
her feet are the tender epistles of her admirer: 'My love, my life, I
cannot exist without you;' 'My admirable angel;' 'My dear pretty little
darling,' &c.; the lady is holding her lap for a bag of gold (800_l._)
which a stout old party is handing her in exchange for her good
offices, relative to the promotion of a scarecrow in military uniform,
probably his son, seated in an 'easy chair,' with a paper at his feet
inscribed likewise from Gay's 'Newgate Pastoral':--
'Tis so pat to all the tribe,
Each cries, 'That was levelled at me!'
Mrs. Clarke's boudoir is indicated behind; the portrait of 'Frederick'
is hanging therein, and below it is pinned a 'list of candidates
for promotion. Sums offered. Clavering 2,000_l._; Dowling, 800_l._;
O'Meara, 300_l._' &c. Everything is apparently conducted on a
business-like footing. 'Mrs. Clarke's Ledger' is placed ready to hand,
and upon it is a long file of receipts, 'commissions paid for.'
_February 20, 1809._ _Mrs. Clarke's Levee._ A pair of subjects on one
plate. Published by T. Tegg, Cheapside.--The interest of this frail
dispenser of patronage was not confined to the army, it was extended
to the Church. In the course of the disclosures it was shown that a
certain Doctor O'Meara had secured, through her offices, and for a
consideration, the privilege of preaching before Royalty--an equivocal
road to preferment, on the nature of which the caricaturists were
especially playful, as succeeding prints will elucidate. Mrs. Clarke is
seen, standing in semi-royal state, under a canopy, and holding a levee
of interested applicants: military officers, of various grades, are
bowing before the fair patroness; a Church dignitary, openly provided
with the needful (800_l._ in a money-bag), and 'cits' who are willing
to treat for the advantage of having their sons converted into officers
and gentlemen. Mrs. Clarke is candidly rehearsing the terms on which
business may be transacted at her establishment; the conditions are
sufficiently plausible:--
Ye Captains and ye Colonels--ye Parsons wanting place,
Advice I'll give you gratis, and think upon your case.
If there is possibility for you I'll raise the dust;
But then you must excuse me--if I serve myself the first.
_February 20, 1809._ _The Ambassador of Morocco on a Special
Embassy._--In such delicate transactions as Mrs. Clarke carried on at
Gloucester Place, where the Duke had set up an elegant establishment
for her use, the intermediary of third parties was essential. Among the
accommodating persons whose names were brought to light in the course
of the proceedings, as acting in the capacity of 'go-betweens,' was a
certain 'Emperor of Morocco,' as he was styled in the correspondence,
but who, in sober reality, was a ladies' shoemaker, one Taylor, of Bond
Street.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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