English Caricature and Satire on Napoleon I. Volume I (of 2)

CHAPTER XXV

GENERAL UNEASINESS – CARICATURES THEREON – ADDINGTON’S NEPOTISM – NAPOLEON’S DISCOURTESY TO LORD WHITWORTH – TRIAL OF JEAN PELTIER

‘The Political Cocks’ (by Ansell, March 27, 1803) is very graphic. Napoleon, a game cock armed with terrific spurs, is calling across the Channel to Pitt, who, standing on the British Crown, is crowing lustily. Napoleon says, ‘Eh Master Billy, if I could but take a flight over this brook, I would soon stop your Crowing. I would knock you off that Perch, I swear by Mahomet, the Pope, and all the Idols I have ever worshipped.’ Pitt, however, replies, ‘Tuck-a-roo – too – that you never can do!!!’

This was a fine time for the caricaturists, and their works came thick and fast. Telling their own tale, they need no explanation. ‘An Attempt to swallow the World’ (artist unknown, April 6, 1803) shows Napoleon attempting this difficult feat – John Bull looking on, and remarking, ‘I’ll tell you what, Mr. Boneypartee, when you come to a little spot I have in my eye, it will stick in your throat and choak you.’

West (April 6, 1803) engraved ‘John Bull teased by an Earwig.’ Napoleon, drawn very small, is on John Bull’s shoulder, pricking his cheek with his little sword. This annoys the old man, and, looking up angrily from his meal of bread (Ceylon), and cheese (Malta), he says, ‘I tell you what, young one – if you won’t let me eat my bread and cheese in peace and comfort, I’ll blow you away, you may depend upon it.’ To which the Earwig replies, ‘I will have the Cheese, you Brute, you; I have a great mind to annihilate you, you great overgrown Monster.’

‘Easier to say than to do’ (I. Cruikshank, April 14, 1803) shows Bonaparte seated before a New Map of the World, attempting to erase the British Isles. A Dutchman, with a lighted candle, suggests, ‘Got for d – n de ting – here take te candle, and burn tem out.’ On the other side, a Spaniard says, ‘Here, my friend, take the paste-brush, and stick a piece of your three-coloured flag over them.’ Whilst a Jew, who has a label coming out of his pocket, ‘Subscription to new loan,’ says, ‘I tink if I lend a little more monish at Turty per shent, it will soon annihilate dem.’ Bonaparte reflects: ‘I cannot scrape these little islands out of the map. As for your plan, Mynheer, we did try to burn them once, but they would not take fire; and let me tell you, Don Diego, they are not so easily overrun with any flag as you may think! I believe Moses’s plan the best; that, and a threat now and then may probably do the business.’

‘An Attempt to undermine John Bull, or working through the Globe’ (Roberts, April 16, 1803), shows Napoleon standing on ruins, surrounded by ‘Territories pickaxed with impunity’ – Switzerland, Italian Republic, Batavian Republic; and he is now commencing operations with his pickaxe on John Bull, saying, ‘O, the Pick axe is infinitely the best way – I shall soon be at the little fellow, that’s his abode, I know it by the white cliffs.’ John Bull is lying down, sword in hand, with his ear on the ground, and says, ‘I hear you burrowing away, my fine fellow; but it won’t do. – As soon as you pop your head above the surface, you shall be saluted with a few of John Bull’s pop-guns.’

Another caricature (artist unknown, April 16, 1803), called ‘A stoppage to a Stride over the Globe,’ shows a colossal Napoleon bestriding the World, whilst a small John Bull, on England, is hacking at his foot, with a sword. Napoleon, in disgust, is calling out, ‘Ah! who is it dares to interrupt me in my progress?’ ‘Why, ’tis I, little Johnny Bull, protecting a little spot I clap my hand on, and d – n me if you come any farther – that’s all.’

Ansell, too, the same date (April 16, 1803), drew ‘The Governor of Europe, Stoped in his career, or Little B – n too much for great B – te.’ Here a huge Bonaparte has attempted to put his foot on Britain, and John Bull has cut it off. Napoleon, dancing with pain and loss of blood, drops his sword, yells out, ‘Ah, you tam John Bull!! You have spoil my Dance!! You have ruined all my Projets.’ Little John Bull, pointing to his native land, says, ‘I ax pardon, Master Boney, but as we says, Paws off, Pompey, we keep this little spot to ourselves, you must not dance here Master Boney.’

Rowlandson (May 1, 1803), brought out ‘John Bull listening to the quarrels of State affairs.’ Napoleon is talking to the Chancellor, and says, ‘And so – if you do so, I do so.’ The Chancellor, in an evident fright, exclaims tremulously, ‘Oh! Oh!!’ whilst old John Bull looks on, listening, all eyes and expectation, with his hair on end, ‘I declare my very wig stands on end with curiosity. What can they be quareling about? O that I could but be let into the secret! If I ax our gentleman concerning it, it is ten to one if he tells me the right story.’

On May 2, 1803, Gillray produced a very effective caricature called ‘Doctor Sangrado curing John Bull of Repletion, with the kind offices of young Clyster pipe⁶⁹ and little Boney. A hint from Gil Blas.’ John Bull is seated, very weak indeed, held up by Lord Hawkesbury. Fox and Sheridan are behind, bringing warm water, and everybody in the drawing is exhorting the patient to ‘Courage.’ Addington is performing the operation, and the blood streams forth copiously. Napoleon catches in his cocked hat, Ceylon, Malta, Cape of Good Hope, and West Indies; whilst young Clyster pipe holds out his hat, labelled ‘Clerk of the Pells,’ and catches a stream ‘3,000l. per annum.’ This scandalous job, his father having given him this lucrative sinecure when he was very young, excited much adverse comment at the time.

‘Britannia repremanding a Naughty Boy!’ (artist unknown, May 3, 1803). Britannia, with a helmet on her head, her shield by her side, a spear in one hand, and a birch rod in the other, stands on the shore at Dover. On the top of the cliffs is a crown on a cushion. Napoleon, attired, as usual, in an enormous cocked hat, stands on the shore at Calais, whimpering, ‘I’m tired of this great hat, I will have that crown.’ But says Britannia: ‘Stay where you are, you little troublesome Urchin. If once you cross the Dyke you’ll get a good birchin!’

‘Lunar Speculations’ is the whimsical title of a picture by Ansell, May 3, 1803. Bonaparte is looking through a large telescope, mounted on a tripod, at the moon; and he is saying: ‘I wonder the Idea never struck me before! The place would easily be taken, and has undoubtedly great capabilities – Besides they would make me Emperor: – and then, the sound of the Title Emperor of the Full Moon – oh! delightful! I’ll send for Garner⁷⁰ and his balloons and set about the scheme immediately.’ John Bull, looking at him quizzically, and holding his very fat sides, says: ‘What! going to revolutionize the Moon, Bonny? That’s a good one, however – To be sure, you talk’d of paying a visit to my little island, and one should certainly be as easily accomplished as the other.’

The situation was getting more strained daily, and Napoleon did not mend matters by his studied discourtesy to Lord Whitworth.

* * * * *

 
‘Indeed,’ said Whitworth, ‘you mistake,
We wish a lasting peace to make.’
‘Pay more respect to treaties, then,’
Cried Nap, and raised his voice again;
‘What use are treaties? – all my eye —
If violated – fie – oh fie —
What use are treaties? woe to those
Who don’t respect them – they’re my foes;
Yes, they’re my foes – I tell you flat,
And I don’t value them – not that.’
This said, his argument to back,
He with his fingers gave a crack,
 

* * * * *

 
The Company were all ashamed,
And his indelicacy blamed;
His manners were so ungenteel,
That each now turn’d upon his heel.
England’s Ambassador was bent
The Consul’s conduct to resent.
He sent a note of all that pass’d
From the beginning to the last,
Then sought for passports, as advis’d;
At this the Consul was surpris’d;
But England now was irritated,
For in the Moniteur ’twas stated,
That she could never, single handed,
Contend with France – so he demanded
His passports – likewise he averr’d,
That war, he to suspense, preferr’d.
His lordship’s wish they strove t’ evade,
The passports daily were delay’d.
Lord Whitworth, soon as they were granted,
Set off for London, as he wanted.
 

By way of parenthesis, I may say that Napoleon made loud complaint about the libels published about him in England; and, to show the impartiality of the Government, and their desire to do justice, even at a time when war between the two countries was almost morally certain, a Frenchman, named Jean Peltier, was prosecuted for libelling him, the indictment being ‘That peace existed between N. Bonaparte and our Lord the King; but that M. Peltier, intending to destroy the friendship so existing, and to despoil said Napoleon of his consular dignity, did devise, print, and publish, in the French Language, to the tenor following, &c.’

It is never worth while to go into the words of the libel (which appeared in a periodical called L’Ambigu), which is purely political, and which would never be noticed nowadays. I only introduce the episode to shew that the English Government even went out of their way to conciliate Bonaparte, and that the libel, as usual, sprang from French sources.

He was unanimously found guilty, and judgment was to have been delivered next term, but, war being renewed, he was never called upon to appear.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE ULTIMATUM– LORD WHITWORTH LEAVES PARIS – DECLARATION OF WAR – CARICATURES PREVIOUS THERETO – SURRENDER OF HANOVER

Now came the ultimatums on both sides. The presentation of an ultimatum is hardly a personal caricature of Napoleon, but it belongs to the history of the times. One picture was published May 3, 1803, by an unknown artist, and was called ‘Waste Paper.’ A French officer holds four ultimatums in his hand, and presents John Bull with No. 1. A servant, behind, carries a huge sack of ultimatums. The Frenchman thus speaks: ‘Monsieur Jean Bull, I am come from De Grand Nation to present you vone Ultimatum. If you not like dat – I present you vone oder – I have got seventy tree Tousand Ultimatum, and you must agree to vone or de oder – or, begar, I sal kick you out of de Europe. My lacquey has got Dem in de Sac, and will leave dem for your consideration. Health and Fraternity, Citizen Bull!’ John Bull uplifts his cudgel, and his bulldog growls. Says the old man, ‘Hark ye, Mr. Frog! I was just feeling in my pocket, for a little bit of waste paper, and you have just supplied me in time: so now get you gone, or I’ll shew you the use of my Horns, by tossing you out of old England.’

But this giving of ultimatums was not all on one side. I. Cruikshank (May 14, 1803) drew ‘Ultimatum, or the Ambassador taking proper steps.’ Our ambassador⁷¹ is just stepping into his carriage, and, whilst doing so, presents Napoleon with an ultimatum, saying, with national courtesy, ‘Be quick, or d – me I’m off.’ Napoleon is depicted as being deeply affected by this conduct. He weeps copiously, and wrings his hands, whimpering, ‘Pray stop, and I will agree to anything.’

There is a caricature by an artist unknown (May 18, 1803), called ‘The Bone of Contention,’ which is labelled Malta. Bonaparte, looking very fierce, menaces John Bull with his sword, exclaiming ‘By the Bridge of Lodi! by the plains of Marengo!! by everything that is great and terrible – I command you to surrender that bone!!!!’ John Bull, however, has set his foot upon that bone, and is prepared to defend it with his oaken cudgel. He laconically replies ‘You be d – d.’

This subject was also treated by Ansell (June 14, 1803) in ‘The Bone of Contention, or the English Bulldog and the Corsican Monkey.’ The monkey, in a fearful and wonderful cocked hat, calls out, ‘Eh! you Bull Dog, vat you carry off dat Bone for? I vas come to take dat myself. I vas good mind to lick you, but for dem Dam Tooths.’ Whilst John Bull, typified as a bulldog, has the bone, Malta, firmly between his teeth, and growls defiance.

Lord Whitworth left Paris on May 12, and arrived at Dover on the 17th,⁷² where he met General Andreossi, the French minister, on the point of returning to France. On the 18th, George III. sent his Declaration of War to both Houses of Parliament, and Nelson hoisted his flag on board the Victory, at Portsmouth, the same day. Thus ended a peace which had existed only one year and sixteen days.

Of course, the caricatures were, necessarily, prepared a day or two before their publication, so the dates do not depend upon the events which took place. Such an one is ‘Armed Heroes,’ Gillray, May 18, 1803, which is amusing. It is Addington who is bestriding the Roast Beef of Old England. Lord Hawkesbury sits behind him; whilst the two other figures respectively represent Hely Addington and Bragge Bathurst, who were members of the Addington family, and had been provided with good places by their powerful relative.

Napoleon looks with hungry eyes on the beef, and exclaims: —

 
Ah, ha! sacrè dieu! vat do I see yonder?
Dat look so invitingly Red and de Vite?
Oh by Gar! I see ’tis de Roast Beef of Londres
Vich I vill chop up, at von letel bite!
 

Addington is in a curious state of mind, between bluster and fear, calling out, ‘Who’s afraid? damme? —O Lord, O Lord, – what a Fiery Fellow he is!– Who’s afraid? damme? —O dear! what will become of ye Roast Beef? Damme! who’s afraid? —O dear! – O dear!’

The medicine bottles peeping out of his pockets are a delicate allusion to Addington’s parentage, his father having been a physician.

The caricatures which follow are simply dated May; but, from their internal evidence, they precede the declaration of war. Bonaparte is represented as being excessively frightened at the prospect of a rupture with England, and, in May 1803, an etching (artist unknown) was produced, shewing ‘A Little Man Alarmed at his own Shadow.’ He is cowering, and trembling, and looking back at his lengthened shadow on a wall, saying ‘Mercy on us – what tall figure is that. It surely can’t be Johnny Bull? No, no, that cannot be, it is not lusty enough for him.’

A very graphic caricature is ‘Maniac Ravings, or Little Boney in a strong Fit. Vide Lord W – ’s⁷³ account of a visit to the Thuilleries.’ Here he is depicted in a fearful state of frenzy; he has kicked over the consular chair, a globe (with all Europe expunged, except the British Isles), dashed his hat to the ground, upset a table, with all his writings on it, broken his sword and scabbard; and, whilst tearing his hair, stamps frantically on such papers as ‘Wyndham’s Speeches,’ ‘Cobbett’s Weekly Journal,’ Anti-Jacobin Review,’ ‘Wilson’s Egypt,’ &c. His ‘Maniac Ravings’ are veritably so. ‘Oh Egypt, Egypt, Egypt! Oh, St. Domingo, Oh! Oh, the liberty of the English Press! English Bloodhounds! Wyndham! Grenville! Pitt! Oh I’m murdered! I’m assassinated!! London Newspapers! Oh! Oh! Oh! Revenge! Revenge! come Fire! Sword! Famine! Invasion! Invasion! Four Hundred and Eighty Frenchmen! British Slavery and everlasting Chains! everlasting Chains! O Diable! the Riches! Freedom! and Happiness of the British Nation! Ah! Diable, Diable, Diable! Malta! Malta! Malta! Oh, cursed Liberty of the British Press! Insolence of British Parliament! Treaty of Amiens! Damnation! British trade and commerce! Oh! Oh! Oh! English calumniating Newspapers! Oh, Sebastiani! Sebastiani! Oh, Georges! Arras! de Rolle! Dutheil! O Assassins! Treason! Treason! Treason! Hated and Betray’d by the French! Despised by the English! and laughed at by the whole world!!! Oh, English Newspapers!!! English Newspapers!!!! English Newspapers!!!!!’

Woodward drew a picture (May 1803) of ‘A great Man Intoxicated with Success,’ and depicted Boney with a very ‘how came you so?’ expression of countenance, reeling along, and saying, ‘Ah Johnny Bull, how are you my Boy – I am going to re-establish slavery – I am grown very Pious. I – I – I’ll double my guards. I – I – I don’t know what I’ll do.’ John Bull is utterly astonished at such conduct. ‘Why, bless your heart, my fine fellow, you be Muzzy – I dare say you find it difficult to stand. Now, let me advise you – take a little Nap – if it’s only for a quarter of an hour, you can’t think how much it will refresh you.’

Another caricature, apparently by Woodward, was published in May 1803, ‘Bonaparte and the Quaker.’ Bonaparte’s attitude is decidedly aggressive and bullying: ‘So they are all Great Men in your Country, eh! – but I suppose they are like you – not very fond of fighting – is not that the case Master Quaker?’ Brother Broadbrim replies, ‘Little Man, it is not the case. I myself encourage not fighting. But if thou, or any of thy Comrades, darest to cross the great waters, my Countrymen shall make Quakers of you all.’

The national feeling was well expressed in a caricature (May 1803) – Bonaparte is represented as a mighty mushroom, looking, with no very benign expression of countenance, on John Bull, who, embracing the British Oak, exclaims, ‘You may look as cross as you please, master Mushroom: but here stands the British Oak, and by St. George and the Dragon, not a leaf of it shall fall to the Ground.’

On May 28, George III., as Elector of Hanover, issued a proclamation, in which he said that, abiding by the treaty of Luneville, he would, as Elector of Hanover, take no part in the war. But, notwithstanding this, the Electorate of Hanover surrendered, by capitulation, to General Mortier on June 3. This prologue is necessary for us to understand the following halfpenny broadside: —

A PEEP INTO HANOVER,

OR

A faint Description of the Atrocities committed by the French in that City

It will be remembered, that the Electorate surrendered without Resistance. This we do not mention, as increasing our Compassion for the Inhabitants, which it certainly does not; but as increasing our abhorrence of the Invaders, who, without Provocation, or Pretext of Resistance, have perpetrated the Atrocities, of which the following is a faint outline:

Ever since the Conquest, the whole Electorate has been a scene of Pillage and Butchery, which is said to yield only to the fate of Switzerland, in Spring 1798. The French Soldiers have the most unbounded Indulgence of their ruling passions of Rapacity, Cruelty and Lust; —In the City of Hanover, and even in the Public Street, Women of the Highest Rank have been violated by the lowest of that brutal Soldiery, in presence of their Husbands and Fathers, and subjected, at the same time, to such additional and undescribable Outrages, as the brutal Fury of the Violators, enflamed by Drunkenness, could contrive. We have seen the names of some of these unfortunate Ladies: but the Honour of their Families, and the Peace of their own future Lives (if they can have peace) forbid us to publish them. The Baron de K – , a well known partisan of French Philosophy and Politics, went to the Commandant of Hanover, and claimed his Protection, as an admirer of the French Revolution! but he found no more favour in the Sight of the Aga of Sultan Bonaparte’s Janisaries, than the most loyal Noblemen in Hanover. The French Officer told him, ‘All that Jacobinism is now out of Fashion – Go about your business!’ Nor have we heard that the Philosophers of Gottingen, the Enthusiasts of Equality and Perfectability, have been at all better treated. —

Such are the tender Mercies of the Wicked! Such are the Gangs of ferocious Banditti, whom the Murderer of Jaffa let loose on the civilized World! Such, and ten thousand times worse, is the Fate prepared for England, if the valour of her people do not avert it; for England will assuredly be more oppressed, in proportion as she is more dreaded, envied, and hated. To shew any symptom of Neutrality in such a Cause, not to support it with all our might, is the foulest Treason against the People of England; and the poorest honest Labourer, who has a Mother, or a Sister, a Wife, or a Daughter, has, in truth, as much reason as the highest Duke in the Land to detest the Traitor. Englishmen think of this and profit by Example.

These were the kind of handbills (of which there are hundreds in variety) which were circulated, to arouse and stimulate martial fire and patriotic ardour in the Britannic mind. Their name is Legion, and I have had to read them all, in order to pick out the examples given in this book. They are curious, and help us, more than any other history, to gauge the temper of the times. It was a veritable scare. Hardly having felt any of the benefits of peace, the English were once more involved in war, with the almost certainty, this time, of having their, hitherto almost inviolate, islands invaded by the French. We can hardly wonder, therefore, at the hearty hatred our forefathers felt for the ‘Corsican Ogre,’ to whom all this turmoil was due; and, to do them justice, they did hate him with a thoroughly genuine detestation – so much so, that they did not always scrupulously investigate the truth of some of the very questionable statements dished up for them (and they were highly spiced). There can be no manner of doubt but that these broadsides and handbills, together with the caricatures, had the desired effect in rousing the nation to a fervid patriotism, and, as they did so, it is perhaps hardly right to question the legality of their statements, but accept them according to the doctrine that ‘the end justifies the means.’