Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 2 by Joseph Grego

1801. Four subjects on a sheet.--_Here's your potatoes, four full

1915 words | Chapter 19

pounds for two pence!_ _Light, your Honour, Coach unhired._ _Buy my roses, dainty sweet briar!_ _Pray remember the blind._ Designed and executed by T. Rowlandson. Republished 1811. _September 12, 1801._ _A Sailor Mistaken._ G. M. Woodward. Published by R. Ackermann. _December 20, 1801._ _Gig-hauling, or Gentlemanly Amusement for the Nineteenth Century._ G. M. Woodward inv. Published by R. Ackermann. 1802. _February 25, 1802._ _Friendly Accommodation._ Woodward inv., Rowlandson sculp. Published by R. Ackermann. _March 1, 1802._ _The Monstrous Craws, or a New-Discovered Animal._ Published by R. Ackermann. _May 1, 1802._ _A Man of Fashion's Journal._--Woodward del., Rowlandson sculp. 'Queer dreams, owing to Sir Richard's claret, always drink too much of it--rose at one--dressed by half-past three--took an hour's ride--a good horse, my last purchase, remember to sell him again--nothing like variety--dined at six with Sir Richard--said several good things--forgot 'em all--in high spirits--quizzed a parson--drank three bottles and loung'd to the theatre--not quite clear about the play--comedy or tragedy--forget which--saw the last act--Kemble toll-loll--not quite certain whether it was Kemble or not--Mrs. Siddons monstrous fine--got into a hack--set down in St. James's Street--dipp'd a little with the boys at hazard--confounded bad luck--lost all my money.' _May 1, 1802._ _A Woman of Fashion's Journal._--Woodward del., Rowlandson sculp. 'Dreamt of the Captain--certainly a fine man--counted my card money--lost considerably--never play again with the Dowager--breakfasted at _two_ ... dined at seven at Lady Rackett's--the Captain there--more than usually agreeable--went to the Opera--the Captain in the party--house prodigiously crowded--my _ci-devant_ husband in the opposite box--rather _mal à propos_--but no matter--_telles choses sont_--looked into Lady Squander's _roût_--positively a mob--sat down to cards--in great luck--won a cool hundred of my Lord Lackwit, and fifty of the Baron--returned home at five in the morning--indulged in half-an-hour's reflection--resolved on reformation, and erased my name from the Pic-Nic Society.' _May 20, 1802._ _The Sailor's Journal._--Two members of the fleet, in the famous days of prize-money, are seated at table with a punch-bowl between them. One of them is smoking old Virginia, while his friend is favouring him with certain extracts from his diary, of which the following must serve as a sample: 'Entered the port of London. Steered to Nan's lodgings and unshipped my cargo; Nan admired the shiners--so did the landlord--gave 'em a handful a-piece--emptied a bottle of the right sort with the landlord to the health of his honour Lord Nelson--All three set sail for the play--got a berth in a cabin on the larboard side--wanted to smoke a pipe, but the boatswain wouldn't let me--remember to rig out Nan like the fine folks in the cabins right a-head. Saw Tom Junk aloft in the corner of the upper deck--hailed him--the signal returned. Some of the land-lubbers in the cockpit began to laugh--tipped 'em a little foremast lingo till they sheered off--emptied the grog bottle--fell fast asleep--dreamt of the battle off Camperdown--my landlord told me the play was over--glad of it--crowded sail for a hackney coach--got on board--squally weather--rather inclined to be sea-sick--gave the pilot a two-pound note, and told him not to mind the change. In the morning looked over my rhino--a great deal of it, to be sure--but I hope, with the help of a few friends, to spend every shilling in a little time, to the honour and glory of old England.' _May 28, 1802._ _Special Pleaders in the Court of Requests, a Litigation between Snip, a tailor, and Galen Glauber, a quack._ Published by T. Williamson, 20 Strand.--A justice, with his legal library at hand (_Game Laws_, _Penal Laws_, _Vagrant Act_, _Blackstone_, &c.) for ready reference, is sitting to investigate a delicate case. A working tailor, who is snapping his shears at his adversary, in the excitement of the cause, and dressed as he has left his shop-board, is the plaintiff; the defendant has brought a pair of nether garments into court as evidence; he is resolutely endeavouring to support his case, while the small clothes in question are held out at the end of his cane for the investigation of the obviously reluctant judge, who does not appear to relish the too familiar vicinity of such unusual testimony. _June 15, 1802._ _A Parish Officer's Journal._ Woodward del., Rowlandson sculp. Published by R. Ackermann.--'Rose early and reflected on the dignity of my office--put on my wig to create awe and reverence in my family. Betty, my wife's new maid, not sufficiently struck by my appearance--a great deal too free--remember to give her warning--dined with the gentlemen at the _Cat and Bagpipes_--returned home soon in order to prepare for the evening's entertainment--had half-an-hour's bickering with my wife to keep up my consequence--and set out to meet my parish friends at the _George_, where we made a most excellent supper, on the profits of a _child_, and adjusted several weighty parochial concerns while partaking of the good things the landlord prepared for us--which consisted of rumps of beef, legs of mutton, suet puddings, fat geese, onions, and other light delicate articles--spent the evening very convivially, and made up another party for the day ensuing.' _June 10, 1802._ _How to Pluck a Goose._ Etched by T. Rowlandson. Published by T. Williamson, 20 Strand. _June 25, 1802._ _La Fille mal gardé, or Jack in the Box._ Published by T. Williamson, 20 Strand.--An old miser, with a portentous bunch of keys, has, in imagination only, secured his treasure, and he is further prepared to insure the safety of a fair charge by the same precaution of locking her in a well-defended chamber; the windows are heavily cross-barred, a blunderbuss and a rattle hang ready to hand, as precautions against intruders; but no danger threatens from without, the risk is nearer within; the miser's strong box has evidently changed its contents, since the rising lid discloses a smart young officer, who only requires the door to be fastened before he appears on the scene. The intriguing damsel, with averted head and her finger on her lips, is inculcating caution to the impatient captive. _July 1, 1802._ _Comfort in the Gout._ (See 1785.) Republished by S. W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly. [Illustration: A LADY IN LIMBO, OR JEW BAIL REJECTED.] _July 1, 1802._ _A Lady in Limbo, or Jew Bail Rejected._ Published by S. W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly.--A 'fine lady,' presumably an _Anonyma_ of the period, finds herself in the fastness of a spunging house; she is made as welcome as circumstances will permit; a bottle of wine, the refreshment customary, is ordered, and the stern hearts of the sheriff's men are appealed to, while bail is sent for. It was a well-known practice at the beginning of the century, and earlier, to pay some obscure individual a trifling fee to become security on emergencies. Similar fictitious householders were always in attendance, and producible from the bar-rooms in the neighbourhood. In the present case a professional limb, of the Hebrew persuasion, is presented, decently made up for the occasion, to tender himself as bondsman for the lady's due appearance. It is evident, however, that a suspicious recognition is taking place; 'Harry Holdfast, Officer to the Four Counties,' or his deputy, does not, judging from his expression, seem to approve of the surety, and the Jew looks somewhat disconcerted under his inspection. The tears of the unfortunate captive, and the plausible reassurances--as to the respectability of the bail offered--of her chaperone, or duenna, are powerless to move the stoic breast of the experienced catchpole. [Illustration: SLYBOOTS.] _July 1, 1802._ _Slyboots._ Published by S. W. Fores.--Slyboots and her cat are snuggled up by the fire, full of fun and friskiness; it is difficult to determine which looks the more mischievous of the pair. The exhortations of the preacher against the vanities of life, seem a trifle out of place here, or, at all events, his denunciations are not likely to produce any lasting impressions on such mercurial souls. _July 1, 1802._ _Intrusion on Study, or the Painter Disturbed._ (See November 1785.) Republished by S. W. Fores. _July 1, 1802._ _Jockeyship._ Published by S. W. Fores. _July 1, 1802._ _A Snip in a Rage._ Published by Howitt, Panton Street, Haymarket.--An infuriated tailor has intruded his head and shoulders through the window of a frail fair's bedchamber, which he has reached by means of a ladder resting against the sill. The tailor, with his measure round his neck, is snipping his shears viciously above the head of a blushing maiden, who is covered with becoming confusion at her detection. The figure of a sturdy apprentice, seen disappearing in the rear, is sufficient to account for the _contre-temps_. _July 18, 1802._ _The Corporal in Good Quarters._ Published by S. Howitt, Panton Street, Haymarket.--The marvellous influence of a red coat is the subject of the present sketch. Who can resist a dashing young soldier? The rustic beauty seems unequivocally smitten, and does not disguise the compromising fact that 'she dotes on the military.' The gallant son of Mars has been quartered on a prosperous farmer, who loves good cheer and brave company; the corporal is made welcome at bed and board, and the best in the house is prepared for his delectation. The venerable Hawbuck does not, however, seem pleased with the way his guest is carrying on with his buxom daughter, who is but too clearly smitten with the soldier's charming freedoms and his fine feathers; it is more than the parent bargained for, and even his dog is looking on with astonishment. But the scandalised parent and the young rustic lounging in the doorway, possibly an acknowledged sweetheart, are at a discount; their authority is likely to be set at defiance. As for the disconcerted swain whose dejected air and attitude express the profundity of his despair, he will probably do something desperate; in dudgeon at his blighted hopes he may very likely fall under the beguiling corporal's spell, offer himself as a recruit, be 'listed, and thenceforth forsake the plough-tail to follow the drum; a lasting text against one of the many evils consequent upon the maintenance of a standing army. [Illustration: THE CORPORAL IN GOOD QUARTERS.] _August 30, 1802._ _A Musical Family._ Published by R. Ackermann. _September 12, 1802._ _Sorrow's Dry, or a Cure for the Heart-ache._ Designed and published by Thomas Rowlandson. Republished 1811. Were I not resolv'd against the yoke Of hapless marriage, never to be curst With second Love, so fatal was the first, To this one error I might yield again.--DRYDEN. 'Deborah Crossstich departed this life September 5, 1802, aged 62.' The body of the departed wife is laid out in her coffin, propped on trestles; on the plate let into the lid is engraved the above affecting inscription. The lamenting spouse is far gone in a mixed state of grief, intoxication, and maudlin affection; he is making laudable efforts to resign himself to his recent bereavement, and is endeavouring to allay his sorrow, between the combined consolations of drink and the tender solicitudes of a favourite maid, who is exerting herself to administer comfort to her afflicted master, with her arm round his neck. The personal belongings of the deceased--her watch, little articles of jewellery, and plate--have evidently been ransacked by this affectionate pair of unaffected and disinterested mourners. An open book displays this familiar quotation, bearing somewhat disrespectful application to the case of the departed:-- A smoky house and a scolding wife Are the plagues of man's life. Oh, what pleasure will abound When my wife is laid in ground! _November 20, 1802._ _Doctor Convex and Lady Concave._ Published by R. Ackermann.

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