Hostilities with France having ceased with the ratification of the preliminaries of peace, there was but little caricaturing of Napoleon, and none of an offensive character. Napoleon occupied his time in attending to home affairs, as also did the British Government. But the peace was not absolutely concluded, and much diplomatic wrangling took place, as usual, before the Peace of Amiens was really signed on March 27, 1802. Its principal articles must be briefly enumerated here, as they will be found of use in understanding forthcoming caricatures.
England restored to France, Spain, and Batavia, all the possessions which had been occupied or conquered during the war, with the exception of Trinidad and Ceylon. Malta was to be restored to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem—the British troops to evacuate the island within three months, or sooner; but Malta was to be independent, such independence being guaranteed by the Great Powers, and the ports to be open to the vessels of all nations, with the exception of those belonging to the Barbary Powers. These are the principal articles necessary for us to bear in mind.
Due credit was given to Bonaparte’s astuteness, and our plenipotentiary, Lord Cornwallis, was considered no match for him.
The Caricature year of 1802 seems to open with one by Ansell (January 9), ‘A Game at Chess’ between Bonaparte and Lord Cornwallis. Bonaparte says, ‘Check to your King. Remember this is not the first time, and I think a very few Manœuvres more will compleatly convince you that I am better acquainted with the Game I am playing, than you are aware of.’ Cornwallis, tearing his hair, exclaims, ‘Curse it, I shall lose this game. You are too much for me.’
This was followed by another from the same pencil (February 8), called ‘Cross examination,’ where Lord Cornwallis is button-holing Bonaparte, and saying, ‘There is great delay in our negociation comeing to a conclusion, and I understand our People are very uneasy lest you should be Humbugging us—Your fleet having sail’d, has given cause for many conjectures, and to tell you the truth it puzzles me a little to know what your intention is.’ Bonaparte’s reply is plain and simple, ‘I have to tell you, Sir, that I do not desire to give you the information you seem to wish for, and whether I sign or not, is of little consequence to the Republican government; our fleet I am in hopes will pick up something.’
In March 1802 Woodward produced a somewhat dreary picture called ‘The National Institute’s first Interview with their President.’ Napoleon, seated under a canopy, says to Sheridan, Fox, Bedford, and Burdett, ‘Gentlemen, you are welcome, and I invite you to the Honors of the sitting.’ Sheridan, who is kneeling, holds a phial and box in his hands, and begs that Napoleon will ‘Be pleased to accept some true poetic Tincture, and a small Box of Pizarro[64] Pills.’ Fox, who has a money bag under his arm, says, ‘I have brought a pound and a half of Patriotism for your eminence.’ The Duke of Bedford opines that ‘He’ll not be displeased with a few Bedford biscuits;’ and Burdett, with his hair, as usual, combed over his eyes, refers to his present, ‘I have brought him a Phial of Genuine Bastile Balsam.’
But when once the peace was signed, much show was made of shaking hands and being friends. Englishmen went over to France in numbers; Frenchmen reciprocated, but not to the same extent. This feeling is shown by the caricaturist, for on April 14, 1802, was published (artist unknown) a picture entitled ‘A Peaceable Pipe, or a Consular Visit to John Bull.’ Napoleon and John Bull are in amicable converse, smoking, and drinking beer. John Bull says, ‘Here’s to you, Master Boney Party; come, take another whiff, my hearty!’ To this hospitable invitation Napoleon replies, ‘Je vous remercie, John Bull, I think I’ll take another pull.’ Mrs. Bull is hard at work mending John’s breeches, which are wofully dilapidated: says she, soliloquising, ‘Now we are at Peace, if my Husband does take a drop extraordinary I don’t much mind, but when he was at war, he was always grumbling. Bless me, how tiresome these old breeches are to mend; no wonder he wore them out, for he had always his hands in his pockets for something or other.’
As before said, with the peace came mutual intercourse between England and France, and there is a picture by Ansell (May 14, 1802), which represents ‘A Trip to Paris, or Iohn Bull and his Spouse, invited to the Honors of the Sitting!!’ Napoleon receives John Bull and Ireland, and when seated, Napoleon addresses them thus: ‘Indeed, Mr. Bull, I am quite charmed with you—there is something so easy and polite in your manners.’
John Bull, however, is not to be taken in by such palpable ‘blarney,’ and replies, ‘Come—come Mounseer Bonny party, that’s all gammon d’ye see. D—n me if I know more about politeness than a Cow does of a new shilling!!’ Ireland looks very angrily at her spouse, and remonstrates: ‘For shame, Mr. Bull, what will the Jontleman think of your Blarney about gammon and cows, and Bodder and nonsense; by St. Patrick, I must send you to Kilkenny to larn good breeding.’