John Ashton - English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I. Volume II (of 2)

The Volunteer movement was well shown in a print by A. M., November 1803: ‘Boney attacking the English Hives, or the Corsican caught at last in the Island.’ There are many hives, the chief of which has a royal crown on its top, and is labelled ‘Royal London Hive. Threadneedle Street Honey’ – which Napoleon is attacking, sword in hand. George the Third, as Bee Master, stands behind the hives, and says, ‘What! what! you plundering little Corsican Villain, have you come to rob my industrious Bees of their Honey? I won’t trust to your oath. Sting, Sting the Viper to the heart my good Bees, let Buz, Buz be the Word in the Island.’ The bees duly obey their master’s request, and come in clouds over Napoleon, who has to succumb, and pray, kneeling, ‘Curse those Bees they sting like Scorpions. I did not think this Nation of Shopkeepers could sting so sharp. Pray good Master of the Bees, do call them off, and I will swear by all the three creeds which I profess, Mahometan, Infidel, and Christian, that I will never disturb your Bees again.’

‘Selling the Skin before the Bear is caught, or cutting up the Bull before he is killed,’ is by I. Cruikshank (December 21, 1803), and represents a Bull reposing calmly on the English shore, whilst on the opposite or French coast is Bonaparte, Talleyrand, and several Generals. Bonaparte, pointing to the Bull, says: ‘I shall take the Middle part, because it contains the Heart and Vitals – Talley, you may take the head, because you have been accustomed to take the Bull by the horns.’ Britannia stands, fully armed, behind the Bull, by an ‘alarm post,’ on which hangs a bell, ‘British Valor,’ which she is preparing to ring: ‘When these Mounseers have settled their plan, I will just rouse the Bull, and then see who will be cut up first.’

‘New Bellman’s Verses for Christmas 1803!’ is an extremely inartistic work of an unknown man (December 1803); the only thing worth quoting about it are these verses: —

‘More than expected, or too many for Boney’ (artist unknown, December 1803), shows him as an Ass, on whose back is John Bull, Russia, Prussia, and Germany. Says Russia, ‘We all depend upon you Mr. Bull – give him a little more spurring, and we’ll soon make him feel the Rowels.’ John mildly expostulates with his quadruped: ‘Come – come, don’t be sulky – if you won’t go in a snaffle, you must be forced to go in a curb.’

Dean Swift’s immortal book did yeoman’s service to the caricaturists, and we find it again employed in a print by West, December 1803: ‘The Brobdingnag Watchman preventing Gulliver’s landing.’ It is very feeble, and merely consists of George the Third as a watchman turning the light of the ‘Constitutional Lanthorn’ upon Bonaparte and his companions, who are attempting a landing.

Another print, by West (December 1803), shows ‘Mr. and Mrs. Bull giving Buonaparte a Christmas Treat!’ The latter is bound to a post in sight of, but beyond reach of, the national fare of this festival. John Bull says, holding up a piece of beef, in derision, ‘Yes, yes – the Beef is very good, so is the pudding too – but the deuce a morsel do you get of either, Master Boney.’ Mrs. Bull too, who is drinking from a frothing tankard, says: ‘Your health Master Boney, wishing you a merry Christmas,’ but offers him none.

An unknown artist gives an undated picture of ‘a Cock and Bull Story.’ Napoleon, as the Gallic Cock, on his side of the Channel, sings

John Bull, who is peacefully reposing in his pastures rejoins: —

In 1803 was published an amusing squib, in which the names of various plays are very ingeniously made into a patriotic address: —

Should the Modern Tamerlane revive the tragedy of England Invaded , and, in the progress of his Wild goose Chace , escape the Tempest , he will find that, with us, it is Humours of the Age to be Volunteers . He will prove that we have many a Plain Dealer , who will tear off the Mask , under which the Hypocrite , this Fool of Fortune , this Choleric man , has abused a credulous world. Should he, to a Wonder , attempt a Trip to Scarborough , to set them all alive at Portsmouth , or to get on both sides of the gutter , he will assuredly meet a Chapter of Accidents on his Road to Ruin ; for Britannia and the Gods are in Council , to make him a Castle Spectre : he will, too late, discover the Secret of Who’s the Dupe ; and that it is the Custom of the Country of John Bull , to shew the Devil to pay to any Busybody , who seeks to enforce on us Reformation .

This Double Dealer , who has excited dismay Abroad and at Home , and gained Notoriety by the magnitude of the mischiefs he has achieved, still presumes, by the Wheel of Fortune , like another Pizarro , to satiate his Revenge , and to learn How to grow Rich , by renewing the distressing scenes of the Siege of Damascus ; until amongst the desolated ruins of our City, he should establish himself like a London Hermit . That he Would if he Could , is past all doubt; but if he will take a Word to the Wise , from a Man of the World , he will believe He’s much to blame , and All in the Wrong ; for the Doctor and the Apothecary are in the Committee ; and by good Management , are forward in the Rehearsal of the lively Comedy of the Way to keep Him under Lock and Key . They may not be able to produce for him a Cure for the Heartache , or for the Vapourish Man , but they will shew him at least Cheap Living , and prove that he has sown his Wild Oats , in a Comedy of Errors .

The Poor Soldier , whose generous heart expands to render Love for Love , is like the gallant and gay Lothario, armed for either field, and prepared to give Measure for Measure ; and to convert the Agreeable Surprize , which the Acre Runaway anticipates in the Camp , from the Beaux Stratagem into a Tale of Mystery . Appearances are against him , as well as the Chances ; but he is a desperate Gamester ; and although his schemes of Conquest will end in Much ado about Nothing , like a Midsummer’s night’s Dream , or a Winter’s Tale , yet he is Heir at Law to our hate; and Every one has his Fault , if he does not unite to revive the splendid scenes of Edward the Black Prince , and Henry the Fifth , when France trembled beneath our arms at Cressy and Agincourt; and give to this unprincipled Bajazet an exit corresponding with his crimes.