The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the timesAshton, John
History
The Dawn of the XIXth Century in England: A social sketch of the times
Ashton, John
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
“The Consequences of Buonaparte’s succeeding in his designs against
this Country:—Universal Pillage, Men of all parties slaughtered, Women
of all Ranks violated, Children Murdered, Trade Ruined, the Labouring
Classes thrown out of Employment, Famine with all its Horrors,
Despotism Triumphant. The remaining Inhabitants Carried away by Ship
Loads to Foreign Lands. _Britons look before you._”
There were sham playbills such as—“THEATRE ROYAL, ENGLAND. In
Rehearsal, and meant to be speedily attempted, A FARCE in one Act,
called THE INVASION OF ENGLAND. Principal Buffo, Mr. BUONAPARTE; being
his FIRST (and most likely his last) Appearance on the Stage,” &c.
“In Rehearsal, THEATRE ROYAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS. Some dark, foggy
night, about November next, will be ATTEMPTED, by a Strolling Company
of French Vagrants, an Old Pantomimic Farce, called HARLEQUIN’S
INVASION, or the DISAPPOINTED BANDITTI,” &c. “THEATRE ROYAL, THE
OCEAN. In preparation, A _magnificent_ NAVAL _and_ MILITARY SPECTACLE,
superior to anything of the kind ever witnessed; consisting of an
immense display of Flat-bottomed Boats Burning, Sinking, &c., to be
called BUONAPARTE; or The FREE-BOOTER running away; the Triumph of the
British Flag,” &c.
[Illustration: THE FREEMAN’S OATH.]
“THE FREEMAN’S OATH.
“Our bosoms we’ll bare for the glorious strife,
And our oath is recorded on high;
To prevail in the cause that is dearer than life,
Or, crush’d in its ruins, to die.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
’Tis the home we hold sacred is laid to our trust,
God bless the green isle of the brave,
Should a conqueror tread on our forefathers’ dust,
It would rouse the old dead from their grave.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
In a Briton’s sweet home shall the spoiler abide,
Prophaning its loves and its charms?
Shall a Frenchman insult the lov’d fair at our side?
To arms! Oh, my country, to arms!
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.
Shall Tyrants enslave us, my Countrymen? No!
Their heads to the sword shall be given:
Let a deathbed repentance be taught the proud foe,
And his blood be an offering to Heaven.
Then rise, fellow freemen, and stretch the right hand,
And swear to prevail in your dear native land.”
Turning from the sublimity of this patriotic effusion, we shall find a
change in “JOHN BULL and BONAPARTE!! to the tune of the BLUE BELLS OF
SCOTLAND:”
“When and O when does this little Boney come?
Perhaps he’ll come in August! perhaps he’ll stay at home;
But it’s O in my heart, how I’ll hide him should he come.
Where and O where does this little Boney dwell?
His birth place is in Corsica—but France he likes so well,
That it’s O the poor French, how they crouch beneath his spell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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