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
_July 10, 1808._ _Billingsgate at Bayonne, or the Imperial Dinner._
Published by R. Ackermann, 101 Strand.--The members of the Royal
family of Spain, decoyed to Bayonne, are sitting down to a very
unruly repast, the entire company being at loggerheads. The Queen
has risen from table, and in true fishfag style she is raving at her
son Ferdinand, who is confronting her: 'Now, you villain, I'll tell
you to your face--and before my dear friend Boney--you are no child
of the King's--so you may shut up.' At this famous interview the
Oueen of Spain, it may be remembered, after upbraiding Ferdinand for
his usurpation, actually declared him illegitimate. This argument,
according to the print, does not demolish her opponent, who is
replying: 'Madam, I know all your tricks, and all the tricks of your
Prince of Peace.' The Infants of Spain are encouraging the last
speaker: 'Brother, don't mind her, we, the Infants, acknowledge you;'
a terrific personage, with the emblem of a Royal crown on the back
of his seat, is banging down his fist and demanding: 'Am not I the
great Zavallos? will you be silent?' Those on the opposite side are
more tranquilly disposed; Charles, who had abdicated by Buonaparte's
compulsion in favour of his son Ferdinand, is crying: 'I wish they
would let a poor old King play quietly on his fiddle!' while one of
the diners is actually paying attention to his meal, and wishing
'they would leave him at peace.' Little Buonaparte in the uniform of
a general, as he is usually represented, has risen from a high-raised
throne, erected in accordance with his imperial state, at the head of
the table; he is affecting to be in a passion at the general discord
which he had ingeniously contrived to foster and bring about: 'I'll
tell you what, if you make such a riot at my table, I'll be d----d if I
don't send you to the Round House!'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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