"SISTEME DU CONGRÉS.
L'Espagne est cause de tout,
L'Allemagne prétend tout,
La France assiste tout,
L'Angleterre embrouille tout,
La Hollande souffre tout,
Venise consulte tout,
Le Portugal écoute tout,
La Suede a perdu tout,
Le Danemarc craint tout,
La Sardaigne trompe tout,
Les Jésuites sont par tout,
Le Pape bénit tout,
Si Dieu ne pourvoit à tout,
Le Diable emporte tout."
When treating of the American War we left the Americans at the end of 1813 retiring into winter quarters. This year the fortunes of this silly war were somewhat unequal. The absurd system of reprisals was abolished, and the hostages exchanged, as other prisoners of war—altogether, things looked like coming to a close. The great feature of this year's campaign, was the Capture and burning of Washington, on 24th of August, which, virtually, ended the War. The Capitol, the Arsenal, the Dockyard, with a frigate ready to be launched, Treasury, War Office, President's Palace, the Rope Walk, and the Great bridge across the Potomac were all destroyed.
THE FATE OF WASHINGTON; OR, MADDY IN FULL FLIGHT.
(Published October 4, 1814, by Fores.)
There seems to have been a great joke about President Madison losing his supper on this occasion, as, for instance, in the Morning Chronicle of October 15th, is the following: "Although Madison was deprived of his supper in consequence of the British troops entering his mansion at Washington, yet it must be some consolation to him that he did not lose his desert." The same occurs in the dialogue accompanying this illustration which is entitled "The Fall of Washington, or Maddy in full flight."
The three bystanders say, respectively, "Jonathan, where thinkest thou our President will run now?"—"Why, verily, to Elba, to his Bosom friend!"—"The great Washington fought for Liberty, but we are fighting for shadows, which, if obtained, could do us no Earthly good, but this is the blessed effect of it." Madison, who carries under his arm "A plan for laying England under Contribution," "Project for the Conquest of Canada," "Correspondence with Boney," &c.,—says "Who would have thought of this, Man? To oblige us to run from the best Cabinet Supper I ever order'd—I hope you have taken care of Boney's promissory notes—The people won't stand anything after this." His companion says, "D—n his Notes! what are they good for, now? We should get nothing but Iron, he hasn't any of his stock of Brass left, or some of that would have helped us through!"
Two bystanders say, "I suppose this is what Maddis calls benefiting his Country!"—"Why it will throw such a light on affairs that we shall find it necessary to change both men and measures."