* * * * *
Pidcock’s Grand Menagerie,
With an exact representation of
BUONAPARTE,
The little Corsican Monkey,
As he may probably appear at the above Receptacle of Foreign Curiosities, on, or before, Christmas 1803.Ladies and Gemmen!
This surprising Animal was taken by Admiral John Bull, of the True Briton, one of his Majesty’s principal Line of Battle Ships. He possesses the Cunning of the Fox, the Rapacity of the Wolf, the bloodthirsty Nater of the Hyena, the tender Feelings of the Crocodile, and the Obstinacy of an Ass. He has rambled over several parts of the world, where he played a number of wicked and ridiculous Tricks, particularly in Egypt; there he had like to have been nabbed by Sir Sidney Smith, but contrived to steal away to France, where, after a Time, exerting all the bad Qualities he possesses, he so far got the better of his own species as to reign King Paramount over Thirty Millions of poor deceived Monkeys. ‘Come, come, Jacko; don’t look Melancholy, you shall have your Gruel with a Crust in it presently.’ Ladies and Gemmen, if I was to quit him an Instant, he would play a thousand figaries; break all your Crockery, drink up your Wine, play the Devil and Doctor Faustus with your Wives and Darters; eat your Provisions, steal your Goods and Chattels, and commit more Mischief here, than he did in Egypt. He’s of unbounded Ambition, and, by some fortunate Strokes of good Luck, more than by his Abilities, proved very successful in his Deceptions; but this Luck was not to last for ever. Puf’t up, as full as a blown bladder, with conceit, he thought he coud conquer the four Quarters of the Globe: when, sailing with a party of large Baboons, who were called his body Guard, he stole, one dark Night, out of Boulogne Harbour, to make an attack, and seize the Island of Great Britain; where he assured his Companions of immense Wealth by their Plunders. But Admiral BULL coming up with him by break of day, when he was half Seas over, gave them a Broad Side, and woud have sunk them outright; but seeing the Crew were nothing but a Collection of miserable, deluded, poor, Brutes, he turned them adrift, and only seized their Leader to shew him as a Curiosity.[84]
A suggestion was made that two could play at the game of Invasion, and ‘John Bull landed in France’ is a caricature by West (August 29, 1803). He is in cavalry uniform, and, mounted on his lion, is pursuing the French troops, who, bestriding frogs, are in full flight. The terrible old man roars out, ‘D—m me, but I’ll put your Cavalry to the hop—I only wish I could find out your Commander.’ But Boney is looking out of a cottage chimney, remarking, ‘Mercy on me, what a terrible fellow. I think I am tolerably safe here!’
West (August, 1803) describes the ‘Three plagues of Europe.’ Bonaparte figures as ‘The Turberlent Mr. Fightall’; Pitt as ‘The Honourable Mr. Taxall’; and the Devil as ‘The Worshipful Mr. Takeall.’
CHAPTER XXXV.
INVASION SQUIBS AND CARICATURES, continued.
Song.
THE INVASION.