Then the pictorial satirists swooped down upon him, and curious were their different conceptions of the event. I give the one I consider best, as it is the least offensive, and the Regent is so 'royally drunk.' It is by J. R. Cruikshank, and was published on March 25. It is called 'High life below Stairs! a new Farce, as lately perform'd at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, for the edification and amusement of the Cooks, Scullions, Dishwashers, Lick trenchers, Shoe blacks, Cinder sifters, Candle snuffers, etc., etc., of that Theatre, but which was unfortunately Damn'd the first night by Common Sense!'
HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS.
Others are (all in the same month), 'Royal Kitchen Stuff! or a Great Man come down to visit his most Obedt humble Servants!!! (vide the amusements of Brighton).' The Prince has a fat cook round the neck, kissing her, and saying, 'Don't be alarmed, my dear! I only want to see how my private affairs get on below here, so show me your Kitchen Stuff.' The cook, who beats him with a ladle, says, 'La, Sir! what will the people say when they hear of your meddling so often with things beneath you? Depend upon it, you'll be call'd over the Coals, and finely roasted for this.' A maid-servant has hold of his coat-tails, and calls out, 'Baste him well! Give him Goose without Gravy!' On the floor lie two papers—one, 'Theatre Royal, Brighton, By Command of the Prince Regent, High life below Stairs, with Animal Magnetism'; the other is,
'When Bottle the eighth, I get through,
I make love in a style so bewitching,
That most female hearts I subdue,
From the Drawing-room down to the Kitchen.'
Another is, 'He stoops to Conquer, or the Royal George Sunk. This is not the Royal George that was sunk at Spithead, this was sunk at Brighton.' A third is entitled 'Beauties of Grease, or Luxuries of the Kremlin'; and a fourth is, 'Royal George in the Kitchen, or High life below Stairs.' The Prince, with a bumper in his hand, nurses a cook on his knee, to whom he remarks: