"The Stage at the Opera is so crowded, that Madame Rose, in throwing up her fine muscular arm into a graceful attitude, inadvertently levelled three men of the first quality at a stroke."—(Times, May 9, 1796.)
Durham Mustard too powerful for Italian Capers—1798.
Mdlle. Parisot.
The length of Mdlle. Parisot's skirts would have delighted the Bishop of Durham (Shute Barrington), who was much exercised in his mind, in 1798, as to the brevity of those worn by the ladies of the ballet. He seems to have entered into a crusade against the ballet, before he made his memorable speech in the House of Lords, on 2nd March, 1798—for the next illustration is dated January in that year.
It was, however, on the occasion of the second reading of Esten's divorce bill, that the wrath of the Right Reverend Father in God, fairly boiled over, and the Times of 3rd March, reports him to have spoken thus. "He considered it a consequence of the gross immoralities, imported of late years, into this kingdom, from France; the Directory of which country, finding that they were not able to subdue us by their arms, appeared as if they were determined to gain their ends by destroying our morals. They had sent over persons to this country, who made the most indecent exhibitions on our Theatres; exhibitions which would not have been allowed even in France; and which, so far from being allowable in a Christian Country, would have disgraced the ancient Theatres of Athens and Rome.
"It was his intention to move, on some future day, that an Address be presented to his Majesty, beseeching him to order all such persons out of the Kingdom, as people who were likely to destroy our morality, and religion; and who were very probably, in the pay of France."
This tirade made him a fitting subject for the Caricaturists, and they did not forget him.
In a picture by Gillray, 14th Mar. 1798, "Operatical Reform, or La Danse à l'Evêque," we recognise Miss Rose, on the extreme right of the three ladies, who have little other covering for their bodies but the episcopal apron and lawn sleeves. At the foot, is this verse—
"'Tis hard for such new-fangled orthodox rules,
That our Opera troupe should be blamed;
Since, like our first Parents, they only (poor fools!)
Danced naked, and were not ashamed."