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
_December 25, 1813._ _Mock Auction, or Boney Selling Stolen Goods._
Published by R. Ackermann, 101 Strand.--Napoleon is pictured, before
his reverses became of a decided character, contemplating realising
the conquests he had in hand, with a possible view of retiring from
the trade. The Emperor has a sale-pulpit, and is himself officiating
as auctioneer; the lot which is being offered is the crown of Spain;
an old general is holding up the diadem, and the auctioneer, impatient
at the indifference of the purchasers, is crying, 'What! no bidding
for the crown of Spain? Then take the other crowns and lump them
into one lot'--referring to a pile of diadems, the crowns of Russia,
Austria, Prussia, the Papal tiara, &c., thrown into a corner, with
bundles of standards, 'lots of useless eagles,' &c. Lot 2, 'Twenty
flags, the property of the Empress,' 'Kingdom of Prussia,' 'Kingdom of
Westphalia,' 'Saxony,' 'United Provinces,' &c. The Empress is standing
behind her husband, with the infant prince in her arms. Napoleon's
heir is dressed in a uniform like his father's; his face is that of a
monkey. 'I suppose daddy will put us up for sale?' he is represented as
saying to the Empress.
The Mock Auction has drawn plenty of company together. The Dutchman
is smoking his pipe with his accustomed philosophy; a British tar is
patting him on the back, as his very cordial ally, and ridiculing
the Corsican's failure. The King of Würtemburg, Russia pictured as a
Cossack, Austria as a huzzar, Prussia, Bavaria, and other Powers are
present. The Spanish Don is making light of Buonaparte's pretence of
offering his crown for sale; 'That a crown!' he is shouting. 'It's not
worth half a crown!'
_December 30, 1813._ _How to Vault in the Saddle, or a new-invented
Patent Crane for the Accommodation of Rheumatic Rectors._ Rowlandson
delin. and publisher.--The incident depicted is taking place at the
door of the rectory, beside the church porch, where a crane has been
erected for the accommodation of the gouty and unwieldy divine. Two
frisky and solidly-built damsels are hauling away at a rope, to
which a sling is attached. The corpulent rector is swinging in mid
air, preparatory to being lowered into the saddle; in his pocket is
shown a discourse on the apposite text--'_He that humbleth himself
shall be exalted_.' A grinning groom is holding the head of a
high-cruppered horse; the minister's steed is a curiously constructed
instance of equine anatomy, fondly reviving the image of the faithful
_Grizzle_, rendered memorable as the _Rosinante_ of Doctor Syntax,
the long-enduring companion of his famous _Tour in Search of the
Picturesque_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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