| Henry Brougham. | King William IV. |
THE GHEBER WORSHIPING THE RISING SUN. JULY 6, 1830. BY J. DOYLE (HB).
What unknown marvels might be anticipated from the combinations of party, is hinted in the “Un-Holy Alliance, or An Ominous Conjunction” (July 29, 1830), showing the Duke of Cumberland and Lords Durham, Grey, and Eldon in close confabulation. “Old Bags,” as the whilom lord chancellor was irreverently christened, is characteristically “laying down the law,” for the enlightenment of his comrades in this strangely assorted quartette.
A general and somewhat conventional satire on the possible conduct of candidates before, upon, and after their return, appeared among the “Election Squibs and Crackers for 1830,” “Look on this Picture, and on that.” “General Election—dedicated to Electors in General—the difference between one hour after the return, and one month after.” The voter represented is evidently a prosperous mechanic; he wears the colours of the newly elected one in his hat, and is thus addressed by the member he has contributed to return: “My worthy, my best friend, it will be my constant study to comply with your wishes—how can I serve you? Let me see you often; pray come to the Hall; we shall be so happy to see you.” This overcoloured state of things is strangely altered within a month; the candidate is now a full member, and is evidently studying his own interests to the exclusion of those of his constituents; in his hand is a peremptory Government “whip,” thus worded: “Ministers wishing to pass the measure, your vote will be required.” The legislation in question appears to threaten the welfare of his late enthusiastic supporter, who has ventured to interview his member on the momentous topic: “Sir, there is a Bill about to pass that will quite ruin our trade, and bring our families to beggary. I hope, sir, you will use your influence to throw it out.” The member now wears an indignant expression: “You are an impudent fellow! I don’t know you, and, if I did, do you suppose I should be dictated to, fellow?” This plate was executed by William Heath, and issued by T. McLean, of the Haymarket. Perhaps the most notable feature is an announcement that “Election caricatures can be executed for gentlemen in three hours.” This advertisement, appended to the caricature in question, is curious. Of course, for a not-extravagant consideration, intending candidates could secure the playful services of William Heath for rendering ridiculous or contemptible the persons and principles of their antagonists, and for the exaltation of their own.
LOOK ON THIS PICTURE—AND ON THAT.
| Before the Election. | After the Election. |
ELECTION SQUIBS AND CRACKERS FOR 1830. BY W. HEATH.
[Page 346.
Political satirists, happily for themselves, as a rule (with one or two exceptions, such as Sayer and HB) have soared above mere party distinctions; and though it may at first sight strike the observer as indicating a looseness of principles—rather, say, a freedom from prejudices—that each gifted artist seems to lash and laugh at both sides alternately to the best of his abilities, some allowance must be made for the impartiality which enables these latter-day Juvenals to detect the foibles of either faction. As a rule, it may be assumed the old generation of famous caricaturists, taking Gillray, Rowlandson, and George Cruikshank as the most eminent exponents, rather leaned to the popular side of any given question; but, inclination apart, they were just as capable of glorifying “the powers that be,” and of “dusting the jackets” of the would-be reformers. Of this trio, Cruikshank particularly prided himself, as he has himself recorded, upon espousing the side of right against palpable wrong, and of championing the weak against the strong. But, in spite of this pleasing illusion, his caricatures are equally trenchant on either side—to-day the Regent is demolished, to-morrow his unfortunate wife is held up to opprobrium, with happy nonchalance and impartiality. In fact, it may be said of Gillray, as the specimens of his ability in this direction sufficiently demonstrate, that his pictorial satires against Pitt and the Tories were equalled only by his satires directed against Fox and the Whigs, or the youthful Burdett and the Radical reformers of his earlier day.