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
_January 1, 1814._ _The Double Humbug, or the Devil's Imp Praying for
Peace._ Published by R. Ackermann.--In two compartments: _Napoleon
before his Slaves_, and _Napoleon before his Conquerors_. The first
view represents the Senate; the Emperor is standing on his throne,
which is propped upon the crowns of conquered kingdoms; his dark
friend, the Devil, is leaning over the back of the Imperial chair and
prompting the specious harangue which Napoleon is addressing to the
senators, who do not seem to be much interested in the proclamation,
and, on the whole, according to the artist's showing, look very like
a body of imbeciles. _Extracts from Buonaparte's Speech. Sunday,
December 19, 1813._--'Senators, Councillors of State, Deputies from the
Departments to the Legislative Body,--Splendid victories have raised
the glory of the French arms during this campaign. In these weighty
circumstances it was my first thought to call you all around me. I have
never been seduced by prosperity; I have conceived and executed great
designs for the prosperity and the happiness of the world. As a monarch
and a father, I feel that peace adds to the security of thrones and
that of families. I have accepted proposals and the preliminaries. It
is necessary to recruit my armies by numerous levies, and an increase
of taxes becomes indispensable. I am satisfied with the sentiments of
my people of Italy, Denmark, Naples, America, and the nineteen Swiss
Cantons, and have acknowledged the laws which England has in vain
sought, during four centuries, to impose on France. I have ordered
discharges of artillery on my coming and leaving you.'
The other side of the picture displays the fallen Emperor under an
entirely opposite aspect; this time he has to confront his enemies,
and a totally changed demeanour is adopted. The Corsican is on his
knees; before him is his sword, a pile of standards, and the diadems
he had abstracted from numerous crowned heads; the crown of France he
has tucked under his arm; all the rest he is offering to restore to
his enemies, the rightful owners, who have mustered in force and are
completely masters of the situation. The attitudes of the Allies are
expressive of their indignation at 'Boney's' shameful avowals; while
Talleyrand, on his lame leg, in the greatest trepidation at the dangers
which face him, is offering to swear to the truth of the damaging
admissions which his master has found it expedient to make, since
falsehood will not serve him in this quarter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account