CHAPTER XI.
The Agitation for Reform in 1830-32.—The Marquis of Blandford’s Scheme of Reform.—Strange State of the English Representative System of those Days.—O’Connell’s Scheme.—Lord John Russell’s “Resolutions” Rejected.—Dearth of Political Caricaturists at this Time.—HB.—Secret of the Success of his “Political Sketches.”—His Style a Complete Innovation.—“I’ll be your Second.”—Unpopularity of the Duke of Cumberland.—“My Dog and my Gun.”—Lord John Russell Introduces a Reform Bill.—Second Reading Carried by a Majority of One.—General Election.—Lord John Russell’s Second Reform Bill Passes the House of Commons.—Deputation to the Lords.—“Bringing up our Bill.”—The Lords Throw it Out.—Lord John Russell again brings in a Bill.—Ministers again in a Minority in the Lords.—Earl Grey tenders certain Alternatives.—Excitement caused by the Opposition of the Lords.—Perplexity of the King.—How he Overcame the Opposition of the Peers.—William IV. as Johnny Gilpin.—The King as Mazeppa and Sinbad the Sailor.—Outrage on the Duke of Wellington.—“Taking an Airing in Hyde Park.”—“Auld Lang Syne.”—“A Hint to Duellists.”—“A Great Subject Dedicated to the Royal College of Surgeons.”—Sir Francis Burdett.—“Following the Leader.”—“The Dog and the Shadow.”—“A Race for the Westminster Stakes.”—“A Fine Old English Gentleman.”—“Jim Crow Dance and Chorus.”
CHAPTER XII.
Political Sketches of HB. (continued).—Lord John Russell.—“Jonah.”—Reduction of the Stamp on Newspapers.—How it was evaded.—Arguments of the Opponents of the Measure.—Hard and Soft Soap versus Newspapers.—Strange Arguments of the Newspaper Proprietors of the Day.—“The Rival Newsmongers.”—Brougham Watches for the Door of Preferment being Opened.—“The Gheber Worshipping the Rising Sun.”—Made Lord Chancellor.—“A Select Specimen of the Black Style.”—A Scene in the House of Lords.—“The Duel that Did Not Take Place.”—Dissolution of Parliament in 1834.—Brougham’s Royal “Progress” through Scotland.—Annoyance of William IV., who Determines to Get Rid of Him.—“The Fall of Icarus.”—“The Vaux and the Grapes.”—The Irish Coercion Bill of 1833.—Irish Disaffection which led Up to It.—List of Irish Crimes for One Year.—Scenes between English and Irish Members.—“Prisoners of War.”—Good Effects of the Coercion Bill.—Irish Agitators of 1833 and 1883 Compared.—O’ Connell and the Irish Peasant.—Unscrupulous Political Conduct of O’Connell.—“The Comet of 1835.”—“Doctor Syntax [i.e. Peel] on his Faithful Steed in Search of the Picturesque.”—Amazing Number of HB’s Political Sketches.—His failings.—His Imitators and their Fate.
CHAPTER XIII.
John Leech.—Birth.—At Charterhouse.—The “Coach Tree.”—Early Efforts in Drawing brought to the notice of Flaxman.—Apprenticed to Whittle, an Eccentric Medical Man.—Transfer of Leech’s Indentures.—Early Work.—Applies to Illustrate “Pickwick.”—Style not Matured till 1840.—An Attack on Dickens.—Attack on “Phiz.”—Attack on D’Israeli.—“Bentley’s Miscellany.”—Joins Punch.—Marriage.—The “Right-hand Man in Punch’s Cabinet.”—“Illuminated Magazine.”—Portraits of Leech in Punch.—Douglas Jerrold and Albert Smith.—Douglas Jerrold and À Beckett.—Leech at a Fancy Ball.—Albert Smith and the Wide-awake Innkeepers at Chamounix.—George Cruikshank Borrowing from Leech.—Influence of Cruikshank on Leech.—The Two Compared.—Abhorrence of Frenchmen.—Mistake in “The Battle of Life.”