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
_March 1, 1815._ _Sailors Drinking the Tunbridge Waters._ Published
by T. Tegg (242).--The artist has sketched the old drinking-well at
Tunbridge; a body of sailors, true British tars, find themselves, by
some queer chance, which is totally unexplained, at the well-known
watering-place, and, what is more mysterious, these sons of Neptune are
in close proximity to the Springs. A comely, well-favoured, and smartly
attired young damsel, the ministering nymph of the fountain--which,
in this instance, it must be confessed, closely resembles a pump--is
presenting a tumbler of the fluid, drawn by her own fair hands, to a
sturdy ancient coxswain, impressing on the weather-beaten salt, 'Be
assured it is an excellent beverage for gentlemen who have been a long
time at sea.' The ancient mariner, in recalling the effects which the
waters had on 'our Poll,' and remembering his own personal interior
sufferings in the Mediterranean, is reluctant to rush into unknown
dangers: 'Why, lookee, ma'am, I don't wish to be unpolite, but, if your
ladyship's honour pleases, I'd rather hang fire a bit.' Another hardy
tar is grappling with the distasteful difficulty and making frightful
attempts to swallow the contents of his tumbler; but a good proportion
of the water is spilt on the ground, while he is pronouncing the stuff
'Dashed queer tipple, to be sure!' Another smart sailor has his tumbler
all safe in his keeping; but he is bribing a diminutive native, who
is complacently staring at the prospective drinker, to run and fetch
something to qualify the cup. 'Hark'ee, young two-shoes, go and get me
a pint of half-and-half and a squeeze of lemon, for darn me if I could
drink it neat if I was never to weigh anchor again.'
_March 13, 1815._ _A Lamentable Case of a Juryman._ Published by T.
Tegg (Nos. 220 and 347).
_April 7, 1815._ _The Flight of Buonaparte from Hell-Bay._ Published
by R. Ackermann.--We find the anticipations offered in the caricatures
of the previous year completely upset by Napoleon's unexpected return.
The method of the Corsican's evasion is treated figuratively; in place
of the Isle of Elba he is supposed to have escaped from the clutches of
the evil one and out of the depths of the infernal regions. The foul
fiend, _Old Scratch_, is represented in person, amusing himself by
letting his captive loose to work fresh mischief in the world above.
A diabolic armchair of serpents is planted beside the fiery lake, and
for pastime Satan is toying with a pipe and blowing air-bubbles, while
an attendant imp is holding a saucer of suds. The Corsican has been
mounted on a bubble blown by the tempter, and then sent careering back
to earth; hissing dragons, and serpents of supernatural species, are
hissing forth flames and blasts of fury, which are serving as winds to
waft the bubble upwards, while the sulphurous fumes are inspiring the
rider with a frantic thirst for vengeance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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