Some of these caricatures were rather dreary; take, for example, ‘The Consular Warehouse or a Great Man nail’d to the Counter’ (Cawse, May 20). Napoleon is keeping a shop, selling, among other things, ‘Preserved Promises, Pickled Piety from Rome, Oil of Lodi, Marengo Olio, Bullet Bolusses advice gratis. N.B. One Pill is a dose, also Islands for Home Consumption Martinique—St. Lucia.’ John Bull has just bought two, paid for in good hard cash, and takes his goods home with him. Under one arm he carries the ‘Island of Indemnity, ci-devant Ceylon’—under the other is the ‘Island of Security, ci-devant Trinidad.’ They hardly seem to be John Bull’s idea of a bargain, for he is saying, ‘They be very light to be sure—but harkee, my worthy,—you’ll not forget to carry on a little trade with the Old Shop; if you don’t, you know, a Rowland for an Oliver, that’s all.’ Napoleon, however, reassures him with ‘We’ll not talk of that at present, Mr. Bull; all you have to do, is to take care of your new Islands; mind you don’t tumble down, and break them, before you get home—They are very brittle, but a very good article for all that.’
As the year grew older, the entente cordiale grew colder. Suspicions of Napoleon’s intentions were aroused, and Malta was not evacuated as per treaty. One or two warning caricatures, stormy petrels, made their appearance, and in the autumn of this year appeared ‘The Corsican Conjurer raising the plagues of Europe.’ He is shewn with huge cocked hat and an ample robe, which is held up by the Devil, who encourages him, ‘That’s right my fine fellow—If you don’t kick up a pretty dust in the world, never trust the Devil again—that’s all.’ Napoleon is waving a rod over a caldron, in which are serpents, and a devil, the steam from which is labelled, in different clouds, ‘Anarchy, Pride, Murder, Confusion, Treason, War, Plunder, Revenge, Massacre, Avarice, Cruelty, Usurpation, Hatred, Horror, Envy, Blasphemy, Malice, Craft, Falsehood, and Terror.’
There is another one, ‘Parcelling out John Bull,’ which is a queer conceit. Napoleon has a huge pair of Compasses, with which he is measuring John Bull—congratulating himself that ‘He really will make a pretty addition to my departments—he cuts out extremely well indeed.’ There is the Wig Department, Department of the Head, Arm Department, Department of the Body, Fob Department, Breeches pocket Department, Right and Left Leg Divisions. But John Bull assures his friend, in no kindly spirit, ‘Harkee Young one, you have forgotten the Fist Department, and if you don’t take away your d—d Compasses, I’ll give you a relish of it. Cut me out, indeed! why, I’ll fight you with one hand tied behind me.’ This caricature is neither signed nor dated, but it was undoubtedly issued in the autumn of 1802.
We have seen that it was fashionable for Englishmen to run over to France after the conclusion of peace, and Charles James Fox was no exception to the rule; but he had to wait a little, until after the Westminster election, when, on July 15, he was returned head of the poll. He did not long delay the trip, and on July 29 he set out on his journey, accompanied by his wife, the Hon. St. Andrew St. John (afterwards Lord St. John) and a young Irishman named Trotter,[65] who wrote an exhaustive account of their journey. On the 4th of August, Napoleon had been elected Consul for life, a step which might probably tend to consolidate peace, and which rendered his position equal to any other European sovereign. When Fox reached Paris, it was rumoured that this was only preliminary to his taking a higher rank, with the title of Emperor of the Gauls. Just then, Englishmen were in great favour at Paris, and Fox’s arrival created a great commotion. All vied with each other to pay him attention, and it was settled he should be presented to the First Consul at his next levée, which took place on September 3.
Caricaturists, like poets, must needs be allowed some licence, and Gillray (November 15), in his picture of the ‘Introduction of Citizen Volpone,[66] and his Suite, at Paris,’ draws slightly upon his imagination as to Napoleon’s state at this reception; still the allegorical globes, and the introduction of Rûstan the Mameluke, add a fictitious dignity to the picture.
The actual scene, as it was viewed by an eye-witness,[67] is thus described: ‘We reached the interior apartment, where Buonaparte, First Consul, surrounded by his generals, ministers, senators, and officers, stood between the second and third Consuls, Le Brun and Cambacérès, in the centre of a semicircle, at the head of the room! The numerous assemblage from the Salle des Ambassadeurs, formed into another semicircle, joined themselves to that, at the head of which stood the First Consul.’
Gillray’s portrait of Charles James Fox is not very much exaggerated. Let us hope that of Mrs. Fox is. This lady, although she was married to Fox on September 28, 1795, was never introduced to his friends as his wife until this journey. She was always believed to be his mistress, Mrs. Armistead.[68] She made him a good and loving wife, and he was very fond of her.
Trotter describes the actual presentation thus: ‘Buonaparte, of a small, and by no means commanding figure, dressed plainly, though richly, in the embroidered consular coat, without powder in his hair, looked like a private gentleman, indifferent as to dress, and devoid of all haughtiness in his air.... The moment the circle was formed, Buonaparte began with the Spanish Ambassador, then went to the American, with whom he spoke some time, and so on, performing his part with ease, and very agreeably; until he came to the English Ambassador, who, after the presentation of some English Noblemen, announced to him Mr. Fox! He was a good deal flurried, and after indicating considerable emotion, very rapidly said, “Ah! Mr. Fox! I have heard with pleasure of your arrival—I have desired much to see you—I have long admired in you the orator, and friend of his country, who in constantly raising his voice for peace, consulted that country’s best interests—those of Europe—and of the human race. The two great nations of Europe require peace;—they have nothing to fear; they ought to understand and value one another. In you, Mr. Fox, I see, with much satisfaction, that great statesman who recommended Peace, because there was no just object of war; who saw Europe desolated to no purpose, and who struggled for its relief.”