by T. Rowlandson, 1 James Street, Adelphi. According to the original
drawing (see Appendix, collection of John West, Esq.) it appears, from
a paper spread before the desperate gambler, that he has been tempted
to give the _coup de grâce_ to his reckless career by committing a
forgery.
[Illustration: THE GAMESTER GOING TO BED.]
_August 20, 1811._ _Love Laughs at Locksmiths._ Designed and published
by T. Rowlandson, 1 James Street, Adelphi.--The stronghold in which an
old Israelite has confined his treasure has enormous padlocks on the
area gate and the door studded with nails. The proprietor has returned
with provisions for a merry-making; a porter bearing on his head a
basket containing geese, fowls, fish, and fruit, with a flask of wine
in his hand. The old curmudgeon's crutch is leaning against the door,
and he is fumbling over the immense padlock, quite unconscious that a
smart young officer, who has placed a ladder against the window of his
lovely inamorata's apartment, is helping the captive bird to freedom
from the clutches of her jealous jailer.
_August 30, 1811._ _Masquerading._ Published by T. Tegg.--The
comicalities of a masquerade at the beginning of the century, when
this class of entertainment, although declining since the palmy days
of the Pantheon and Madame Cornely's extravagances in Soho Square, was
more prevalent than at present, are set forth with due observation
of the leading characteristics. Prominent among the maskers is a
lady-magician, with her divining-wand and a book of the 'black art,'
confronting a nondescript necromancer and his zany. There is a
nobleman wearing horns as a becoming decoration for his head; and our
old friend Punchinello, with a guitar, putting himself into grotesque
contortions. There is a composite personage, a kind of _Janus_, an
established feature in old _bal masqués_, one side male and the other
female. There is a Folly, a councillor, and the usual attendance of
dominos, masquers, and characters, whose disguises are of a speculative
description.
[Illustration: MASQUERADING.]
_September, 1811._ _Accommodation Ladder._ Published by T. Tegg
(85).--At the feet of a gigantic and finely-built wench is a rotund
yet diminutive Admiral, with cocked-hat, telescope, sword, and all
complete; his broad riband is marked _Death or Victory_. For his
accommodation, that he may be able to reach her countenance within
hailing distance, the lady, who is more than twice the height of her
admirer, is holding a ladder ready for his ascent. The belle wears a
gallant plume, and a streamer with the motto _England expects every man
to do his duty_.
_September 12, 1811._ _Sorrow's Dry, or a Cure for the Heartache._
_September 20, 1811._ _Looking at the Comet till you get a crick in
the neck._ Published by T. Tegg (91).--A slipshod, lean old anatomy,
in dressing-gown and slippers, is straining his ancient crooked neck
staring at a comet through a spyglass. A comely young female, seated
in an armchair at the window, is pointing out the phenomenon to the
gazer; meanwhile a youthful gallant, on his knees beside the lady, is
squeezing her hand, tenderly pressing her foot, and otherwise striving
to enlist her interest by a demonstrative display of affection.
_September 25, 1811._ _Life and Death of the Race Horse._ Published
by T. Tegg (90).--This print is divided into six stages. The first
represents the foal by the side of his dam; in the second he is
pictured as a racer on the course in all the pride of strength and
beauty, blood and limb. In the third stage he has come down to a
hunter; from thence, with old age fast approaching, he is used to run
in a postchaise. In the fifth plate we find the whilom racehorse grown
aged and broken down, and condemned to end his wretched days belaboured
as a pack-horse. In the last stage the racehorse's career is brought
down to his death, and a huntsman has purchased his carcass to feed his
pack.
_September 29, 1811._ _Rural Sports. A Milling Match which took place
at Thisselton Gap, in the county of Rutland, September 28, 1811,
betwixt Cribb and Molineaux, on a twenty-five foot stage, and was
the second public contest between these two pugilists. It lasted
nineteen minutes and ten seconds, and was decisive in favour of Cribb._
Rowlandson del. Published by T. Tegg.--The point from which the picture
is taken affords a good view of the combat, which is about concluded.
Cribb, a massively-built boxer, is dealing the black champion such a
felling blow as, judging from the dismay expressed in the faces of
the two supporters of Molineaux, one of whom is also a man of colour,
will leave the victory in the hands of the striker, whose backer
and bottle-holder are in raptures. Round the raised platform which
constitutes the ring is gathered a very animated throng, amidst which
the artist has depicted the various popular incidents of pushing,
struggling, climbing on shoulders, quarrelling, picking pockets,
cheering, and resenting the encroachments of men on horseback. A
prize-fight would seem to have been an institution in fashion at the
beginning of the century; the streams of vehicles, coaches, tandems,
curricles, and every contrivance 'on wheels' which surround the stage
and line the background give the scene the appearance of a Derby
course. The presence of the fair sex, who seem to appreciate the
performance, keeps up the animation of the picture.
_October 1, 1811._ _Rural Sports. Smock Racing._ Published by T. Tegg.
[Illustration: RURAL SPORTS. SMOCK RACING.]
_October 2, 1811._ _John Bull at the Italian Opera._ Republished. (See
Oct. 2, 1805.) Designed and published by T. Rowlandson, 1 James Street,
Adelphi.
_October, 1811._ _Rural Sports, or a Game at Quoits._--A village green,
with an alehouse in the rear, is the scene of this diversion. Various
loving couples are disporting themselves on benches and at round-tables
by the alehouse door. The village cobblers, blacksmiths, tailors,
butchers, &c., are neglecting their trades to follow the game; their
injured wives have come to reduce the careless husbands to a proper
sense of their duties. One shrewish spouse, leaning over the paling, is
flourishing a broom with a force of arms that threatens to astonish her
good man, whose attention is occupied in the game. Over the head of the
victim is a board, _Washing and mangling done here_. Various convivial
groups are scattered around.
_October, 1811._ _Rural Sports, or how to show off a well-shaped Leg_,
introduces a rustic pleasure-ground. A rope thrown between two tall
trees furnishes a swing for a well-developed and gaily apparelled
hoyden; another maiden is working the rope which swings her friend;
the attractions of the second lady have absorbed a young gentleman,
whose attentions to the fair rope-puller are 'particular.' A group of
wicked old roysterers are delighted with the prospect of the swinging
hoyden--their pipes and bowls are neglected in their rapturous
attention to the evolutions of the fair occupant of the swing, and
their indignant wives are vainly endeavouring to recall them to a sense
of propriety.