We meet with a slight notice of Toussaint l’Ouverture, and the war in St. Domingo, in a broadside dwelling on the consequences of a successful invasion: ‘Here then there would be no volunteering, no balloting, unless, indeed, such Volunteers as were raised in France for the conquest of St. Domingo. And how were they raised? Why, by every man having a bayonet put to his breast, being seized by force, and then chained in couples like dogs, and drove down in a string to the coast, for embarkation, like so many Galley slaves. This, though it may sound incredible to an Englishman’s ear, is a fact known to all Europe.

‘Such my brave Countrymen, would be your dreadful fate, could this blessed island be once subjugated to that haughty and merciless Tyrant, the Corsican Bonaparte. Where then, is the Man who would not die a thousand, and a thousand deaths sooner than submit to so cruel and unnatural a fate?’

July was very prolific of these broadsheets, some of them taking the form of theatrical announcements, two of which are here given.

THEATRE ROYAL, ENGLAND.
IN REHEARSAL, AND MEANT TO BE SPEEDILY ATTEMPTED,
A FARCE
IN ONE ACT, CALLED THE
INVASION OF ENGLAND.

Principal Buffo Mr. Buonaparte,
Being his First (and most likely his Last) Appearance on this Stage.

Anticipated Critique.

The structure of this Farce is very loose, and there is a moral, and radical, Defect in the Ground work. It boasts, however, considerable Novelty, for the Characters are All Mad. It is probable it will not be played in the Country, but will certainly never be acted in Town; where ever it may be represented, we will do it the justice to say, it will be received with Thunders of ... Cannon!!! but we will venture to affirm will never equall the Success of

JOHN BULL.

It is however likely that the Piece may yet be put off on account of the Indisposition of the Principal Performer, Mr. Buonaparte. We don’t exactly know what this Gentleman’s Merits may be on the Tragic Boards of France, but he will never succeed here; his Figure is very diminutive, he struts a great deal, seems to have no Conception of his Character, and treads the Stage very badly; notwithstanding which defects, we think, if he comes here, he will get an Engagement, though it is probable that he will, shortly after, be reduced to the situation of a Scene Shifter.

As for the Farce, we recommend it to be withdrawn, as it is the opinion of all Political Critics, that if played, it will certainly be

DAMN’D.
‘Vivant Rex et Regina.’

The other is:—

In Rehearsal,
THEATRE ROYAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS.

Some Dark, Foggy Night, about November next, will be Attempted, by a Strolling Company of French Vagrants, an Old Pantomomic Farce, called

HARLEQUIN’S INVASION
OR THE
Disappointed Banditti.
WITH NEW MACHINERY, MUSIC, DRESSES, AND DECORATIONS.

Harlequin Butcher, by Mr. BUONAPARTE
FROM CORSICA.
(Who Murdered that Character in Egypt, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, &c.)

THE OTHER PARTS BY

Messrs. Sieyes, Le Brun, Talleyrand, Maret, Angereau,
Massena, and the Rest of the Gang.

In the Course of the Piece will be introduced a Distant View of
Harlequin’s Flat-Bottomed Boats
WARMLY ENGAGED BY THE
Wooden Walls of Old England.

THE REPULSE.
Or, Britons Triumphant.

The Parts of John Bull, Paddy Whack, Sawney Mac Snaish, and Shone-ap-Morgan, by Messrs. Nelson, Moira, St. Vincent, Gardner, Hutchinson, Warren, Pellew, S. Smith, &c. &c. &c.

The Chorus of ‘Hearts of Oak,’ by the Jolly Tars and Army of
Old England,

Assisted by a Numerous Company of Provincial Performers,
Who have Volunteered their Services on this Occasion.

The Overture to consist of ‘Britons Strike Home’—‘Stand to
your Guns’—‘Rule Britannia’ and

GOD SAVE THE KING.

The Dresses will be splendid; the Band numerous and compleat. The whole to conclude with a Grand Illumination, and a Transparency displaying Britannia receiving the Homage of Gallic Slaves.

⁂ No Room for Lobby Loungers. Vivant Rex et Regina.

According to the caricaturist, Hanover had no special attractions for Bonaparte. ‘Boney in possession of the Millstone’ (Ansell, July 5, 1803) shews him as having a fearfully large and weighty millstone hung round his neck, called Hanover. He totters under the weight, and calls out that ‘It’s cursed heavy! I wish it had been Malta!’ John Bull, dressed as a countryman, jeers him: ‘What! thee hast got it, hast thee? The Devil do thee good with it—Old Measter Chatham used to say it was a Millstone about my neck—so perhaps I may feel more lightsome without it.’

‘Flags of Truth and Lies’ (artist unknown, July 10, 1803) is a representation of a typical Frenchman and Englishman, as then imagined. The Frenchman holds a tricoloured flag, and intimates that ‘Mon grande Maître bid-a you read dat, Monsieur!’ and points to the following text on the flag: ‘Citizen first Consul Buonaparte presents Compliments and Thanks to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Great Britain, who have honored him with their visits at Paris, and intends himself the pleasure of returning it in person, as soon as his arrangements for that purpose can be completed.’ John Bull replies, ‘And let your Grand Master read that, Mounseer,’ and points to his flag, the Union Jack, on which is written ‘John Bull does not rightly understand the Chief Consul’s lingo—but supposes he means something about Invasion; therefore the said John Bull deems it necessary to observe that if his Consular Highness dares to invade any Ladies or Gentlemen on his coast, he’ll be damn’d if he don’t sink him.’