But Cobbett had good reason to be sore, for the mob had smashed the windows of his dwelling-house in Pall Mall, and at his office in Southampton Street, because he would not illuminate; so he takes his revenge in a peculiar manner. ‘He did not know that there existed in the country, any force whatever, to compel his Majesty’s subjects to exhibit, at night, manifestations of joy at an event which, in the morning, he had stated his reasons for believing to be a subject of deep concern. But he has unfortunately found himself mistaken; and he is, therefore, under the necessity of apprizing his readers, that, until the principles of the British Constitution, and the laws of the realm, which have ever been objects of his fervent admiration, and most zealous support, can rise superior to the destructive rage of a senseless and infuriate rabble; until he can derive that protection from the Police of the Country, which every subject has a right to claim, but which he has, hitherto, been unable to obtain; until, in short, that “tumult of exultation,” and that “delirium of joy,” which a Ministerial writer so emphatically described, and so earnestly wished, might increase, shall have subsided, the publication of The Porcupine will cease, and the mob be left to exercise their vengeance on an empty office.’
But he did not long leave the populace thirsting for his utterances, for the paper was resumed on October 15.
At length all parties pleased to yield,
A treaty was in London seal’d;
And Nap with pleasure had to say
That England own’d his Cons’lar sway.
The Royalists were vex’d at this,
They took the treaty much amiss;
It seem’d (as for a time it was)
Destructive of the Bourbon cause.
This Amiens treaty, as ’twas termed
Was in October month confirm’d;
And London, tho’ so ill repaid,
Illuminations grand display’d.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE PEACE OF AMIENS—CESSION OF TRINIDAD AND CEYLON—INTERNATIONAL VISITS—FOX’S TRIP TO FRANCE, AND RECEPTION BY NAPOLEON.
An unknown artist, probably Ansell, produced on October 26, 1801, a caricature of ‘The Child and Champion of Jacobinism new Christened (vide Pitt’s Speech).’ Bonaparte is bending over a font, which, is supported by Egyptian sphinges, whilst a bishop calls out, ‘Name this Child.’ Addington and Pitt are the godfathers, and Lord Hawkesbury is the godmother. Pitt replies, ‘Deliverer of Europe and Pacificator of the World.’ Addington says, ‘I hope he will abolish the Slave Trade’; and the godmother mentions, ‘You need not say anything about the march to Paris.’
Gillray (November 9, 1801) gives us a very elaborate picture of ‘Political Dreamings—Visions of Peace!—Perspective Horrors!’ Windham, who was the leader of the war party, is asleep, and his dreams are full of incident—too full, indeed, to recapitulate here. But the principal scene in the sleeping man’s vision is Napoleon dragging to the guillotine by a halter, Britannia, whose trident is broken, as, also is her shield.
‘The Balance of Power,’ by Ansell (December 1, 1801), shows a pair of scales, in which Bonaparte weighs down Pitt and the Lord Chancellor. Pitt ruefully exclaims, ‘So this is the Balance of Power we have been making such a fuss about—a pretty piece of business we have made of it. Curse that sword of his, ’tis that has made us kick the Beam.’