[42] “Annual Register,” 1820, p. 1149; see also the impartial opinion of the Duke of Portland, “Greville Memoirs,” vol. i. p. 56.
[43] See “Annual Register,” 1820, p. 1139 et seq.
[44] This of course may not be the case. The Duke of Kent, we know, was dead at the time, and Wood, we believe, was not Lord Mayor. He had been Lord Mayor some time before, and the satire may possibly allude to some order made at that time. At the same time, I find the caricature amongst those assigned (in the large but badly arranged collection to which I have present access) to this particular period.
[45] “Annual Register,” 1820 [190].
[46] There is a custom in the Manor of Torre Devon, that when a copyhold tenant dies, his widow has her free-bench in his land, but forfeits her estate on committing the offence with which the queen was charged; on her coming however into court riding backward on a black ram, and repeating the formula mentioned in the design, the steward is bound to reinstate her. Without this explanation the meaning of this telling satire would not be understood. For the formula (which cannot be repeated here) I must refer the reader to Jacob’s Law Dictionary, ed. 1756, title, “Free Bench.”
[47] “Greville Memoirs,” vol. i. p. 27.
[48] Ibid., p. 43.
[49] Unlike George Cruikshank, Rowlandson seldom dropped caricature in his book illustration. When he does so, as in his designs to “Naples and the Compagna Felice,” he shows (as in his water colour drawings) his wonderful graphic powers. His illustrated books are rare, and command good prices. William Coombe’s English “Dance of Death” and “Dance of Life” (I refer of course to first editions) can only now be purchased at £14.