‘Mr. Fox said little, or rather, nothing, in reply,—to a complimentary address to himself, he always found invincible repugnance to answer; nor did he bestow one word of admiration or applause upon the extraordinary and elevated character who addressed him. A few questions and answers relative to Mr. Fox’s tour terminated the interview.’
Other caricaturists took the matter up, for Fox’s visit to Paris was naturally commented on; and there is an engraving by Ansell (November 8, 1802), ‘English Patriots bowing at the Shrine of Despotism.’ These ‘Patriots’ are Fox, Erskine, and Combe, the brewer, who was Lord Mayor. They are represented as bowing in the most lowly fashion—so low, indeed, that Fox has burst his trousers behind; and with one voice they assure Napoleon that they ‘are, with the highest consideration, your Super Royal Consulship’s most Devoted, most Obsequious, and most honored Servants.’ Bonaparte, seated in almost regal state, criticises them: ‘Oh, from the World! O’Connor’s friends—Fox, ha! how old are you? A Brewer; Lord Mayor, ha! great pomp. Mr. Brief, ha! a great Lawyer can talk well. There, you may go.’
Thus we see they did not quite get hold of the right version of this interview, as ‘Taking leave’ was satirised by a nameless artist (November 12, 1802), and represents Fox bowing very humbly to the First Consul, who is crowned with death’s-head and cross-bones, daggers, pistols, and swords, and regards him in an extremely haughty manner.
CHAPTER XXIV.
LORD WHITWORTH AS PLENIPOTENTIARY—HIS EQUIPAGE—ENGLISH VISIT PARIS—UNSETTLED FEELING—NAPOLEON BEHAVES RUDELY TO LORD WHITWORTH.
In June, Lord Whitworth was appointed ambassador extraordinary, and minister plenipotentiary, to the French Republic, and the state he then kept up was a striking contrast to the plainness of Republican equipages. It was different under the Empire; but then the word Citizen had not been dropped, and there was a certain affectation of simplicity. The English attracted great attention by the splendour of their equipages, and there is a caricature (nameless, December 14, 1802) of ‘Lord Whitworth’s Coachman at Paris.’ His get-up is, certainly, ‘exceeding magnifical,’ and is the wonder of the Parisians. It is almost too much for his equanimity, for he is shown as saying, ‘How the Mounseers stare at me! D—n me, if I don’t think they take me for the Ambassador.’
The effects of the peace were hardly realisable for a time, and Woodward gives us an amusing caricature of the state of the empire (December 20, 1802). It is called ‘A Peep at the Lion,’ which is supposed to be on show. Outside the Exhibition Pitt is inviting Europe, generally, to ‘Walk in Ladies and Gentlemen, and see the famous Lion. Though I have some share in the concern, I have nothing to do with showing him, I assure you—I am not his keeper; the Lion I used to show was very fierce, but this is quite quiet and peaceable.’ Inside, the Lion is shewn as lying down, but with one eye open, Napoleon patting him on the head, saying, ‘Poor fellow, poor fellow, what a beautiful Animal,—how sound he sleeps.’ But the Chancellor, Lord Eldon, warns him, ‘You had better not be too free with him Sir, In case of an accident. He is now asleep with one eye, and awake with the other.’
