pounds for two pence!_ _Light, your Honour, Coach unhired._ _Buy my
roses, dainty sweet briar!_ _Pray remember the blind._ Designed and
executed by T. Rowlandson. Republished 1811.
_September 12, 1801._ _A Sailor Mistaken._ G. M. Woodward. Published by
R. Ackermann.
_December 20, 1801._ _Gig-hauling, or Gentlemanly Amusement for the
Nineteenth Century._ G. M. Woodward inv. Published by R. Ackermann.
1802.
_February 25, 1802._ _Friendly Accommodation._ Woodward inv.,
Rowlandson sculp. Published by R. Ackermann.
_March 1, 1802._ _The Monstrous Craws, or a New-Discovered Animal._
Published by R. Ackermann.
_May 1, 1802._ _A Man of Fashion's Journal._--Woodward del., Rowlandson
sculp. 'Queer dreams, owing to Sir Richard's claret, always drink
too much of it--rose at one--dressed by half-past three--took an
hour's ride--a good horse, my last purchase, remember to sell him
again--nothing like variety--dined at six with Sir Richard--said
several good things--forgot 'em all--in high spirits--quizzed a
parson--drank three bottles and loung'd to the theatre--not quite
clear about the play--comedy or tragedy--forget which--saw the last
act--Kemble toll-loll--not quite certain whether it was Kemble or
not--Mrs. Siddons monstrous fine--got into a hack--set down in St.
James's Street--dipp'd a little with the boys at hazard--confounded bad
luck--lost all my money.'
_May 1, 1802._ _A Woman of Fashion's Journal._--Woodward del.,
Rowlandson sculp. 'Dreamt of the Captain--certainly a fine
man--counted my card money--lost considerably--never play again
with the Dowager--breakfasted at _two_ ... dined at seven at Lady
Rackett's--the Captain there--more than usually agreeable--went to
the Opera--the Captain in the party--house prodigiously crowded--my
_ci-devant_ husband in the opposite box--rather _mal à propos_--but
no matter--_telles choses sont_--looked into Lady Squander's
_roût_--positively a mob--sat down to cards--in great luck--won a cool
hundred of my Lord Lackwit, and fifty of the Baron--returned home at
five in the morning--indulged in half-an-hour's reflection--resolved on
reformation, and erased my name from the Pic-Nic Society.'
_May 20, 1802._ _The Sailor's Journal._--Two members of the fleet, in
the famous days of prize-money, are seated at table with a punch-bowl
between them. One of them is smoking old Virginia, while his friend
is favouring him with certain extracts from his diary, of which
the following must serve as a sample: 'Entered the port of London.
Steered to Nan's lodgings and unshipped my cargo; Nan admired the
shiners--so did the landlord--gave 'em a handful a-piece--emptied a
bottle of the right sort with the landlord to the health of his honour
Lord Nelson--All three set sail for the play--got a berth in a cabin
on the larboard side--wanted to smoke a pipe, but the boatswain
wouldn't let me--remember to rig out Nan like the fine folks in the
cabins right a-head. Saw Tom Junk aloft in the corner of the upper
deck--hailed him--the signal returned. Some of the land-lubbers in the
cockpit began to laugh--tipped 'em a little foremast lingo till they
sheered off--emptied the grog bottle--fell fast asleep--dreamt of the
battle off Camperdown--my landlord told me the play was over--glad
of it--crowded sail for a hackney coach--got on board--squally
weather--rather inclined to be sea-sick--gave the pilot a two-pound
note, and told him not to mind the change. In the morning looked over
my rhino--a great deal of it, to be sure--but I hope, with the help of
a few friends, to spend every shilling in a little time, to the honour
and glory of old England.'
_May 28, 1802._ _Special Pleaders in the Court of Requests, a
Litigation between Snip, a tailor, and Galen Glauber, a quack._
Published by T. Williamson, 20 Strand.--A justice, with his
legal library at hand (_Game Laws_, _Penal Laws_, _Vagrant Act_,
_Blackstone_, &c.) for ready reference, is sitting to investigate a
delicate case. A working tailor, who is snapping his shears at his
adversary, in the excitement of the cause, and dressed as he has left
his shop-board, is the plaintiff; the defendant has brought a pair of
nether garments into court as evidence; he is resolutely endeavouring
to support his case, while the small clothes in question are held out
at the end of his cane for the investigation of the obviously reluctant
judge, who does not appear to relish the too familiar vicinity of such
unusual testimony.
_June 15, 1802._ _A Parish Officer's Journal._ Woodward del.,
Rowlandson sculp. Published by R. Ackermann.--'Rose early and reflected
on the dignity of my office--put on my wig to create awe and reverence
in my family. Betty, my wife's new maid, not sufficiently struck by my
appearance--a great deal too free--remember to give her warning--dined
with the gentlemen at the _Cat and Bagpipes_--returned home soon in
order to prepare for the evening's entertainment--had half-an-hour's
bickering with my wife to keep up my consequence--and set out to meet
my parish friends at the _George_, where we made a most excellent
supper, on the profits of a _child_, and adjusted several weighty
parochial concerns while partaking of the good things the landlord
prepared for us--which consisted of rumps of beef, legs of mutton, suet
puddings, fat geese, onions, and other light delicate articles--spent
the evening very convivially, and made up another party for the day
ensuing.'
_June 10, 1802._ _How to Pluck a Goose._ Etched by T. Rowlandson.
Published by T. Williamson, 20 Strand.
_June 25, 1802._ _La Fille mal gardé, or Jack in the Box._ Published
by T. Williamson, 20 Strand.--An old miser, with a portentous bunch
of keys, has, in imagination only, secured his treasure, and he is
further prepared to insure the safety of a fair charge by the same
precaution of locking her in a well-defended chamber; the windows are
heavily cross-barred, a blunderbuss and a rattle hang ready to hand, as
precautions against intruders; but no danger threatens from without,
the risk is nearer within; the miser's strong box has evidently changed
its contents, since the rising lid discloses a smart young officer, who
only requires the door to be fastened before he appears on the scene.
The intriguing damsel, with averted head and her finger on her lips, is
inculcating caution to the impatient captive.
_July 1, 1802._ _Comfort in the Gout._ (See 1785.) Republished by S. W.
Fores, 50 Piccadilly.
[Illustration: A LADY IN LIMBO, OR JEW BAIL REJECTED.]
_July 1, 1802._ _A Lady in Limbo, or Jew Bail Rejected._ Published by
S. W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly.--A 'fine lady,' presumably an _Anonyma_
of the period, finds herself in the fastness of a spunging house;
she is made as welcome as circumstances will permit; a bottle of
wine, the refreshment customary, is ordered, and the stern hearts of
the sheriff's men are appealed to, while bail is sent for. It was a
well-known practice at the beginning of the century, and earlier,
to pay some obscure individual a trifling fee to become security on
emergencies. Similar fictitious householders were always in attendance,
and producible from the bar-rooms in the neighbourhood. In the present
case a professional limb, of the Hebrew persuasion, is presented,
decently made up for the occasion, to tender himself as bondsman for
the lady's due appearance. It is evident, however, that a suspicious
recognition is taking place; 'Harry Holdfast, Officer to the Four
Counties,' or his deputy, does not, judging from his expression, seem
to approve of the surety, and the Jew looks somewhat disconcerted
under his inspection. The tears of the unfortunate captive, and
the plausible reassurances--as to the respectability of the bail
offered--of her chaperone, or duenna, are powerless to move the stoic
breast of the experienced catchpole.
[Illustration: SLYBOOTS.]
_July 1, 1802._ _Slyboots._ Published by S. W. Fores.--Slyboots and
her cat are snuggled up by the fire, full of fun and friskiness; it is
difficult to determine which looks the more mischievous of the pair.
The exhortations of the preacher against the vanities of life, seem a
trifle out of place here, or, at all events, his denunciations are not
likely to produce any lasting impressions on such mercurial souls.
_July 1, 1802._ _Intrusion on Study, or the Painter Disturbed._ (See
November 1785.) Republished by S. W. Fores.
_July 1, 1802._ _Jockeyship._ Published by S. W. Fores.
_July 1, 1802._ _A Snip in a Rage._ Published by Howitt, Panton Street,
Haymarket.--An infuriated tailor has intruded his head and shoulders
through the window of a frail fair's bedchamber, which he has reached
by means of a ladder resting against the sill. The tailor, with his
measure round his neck, is snipping his shears viciously above the head
of a blushing maiden, who is covered with becoming confusion at her
detection. The figure of a sturdy apprentice, seen disappearing in the
rear, is sufficient to account for the _contre-temps_.
_July 18, 1802._ _The Corporal in Good Quarters._ Published by S.
Howitt, Panton Street, Haymarket.--The marvellous influence of a red
coat is the subject of the present sketch. Who can resist a dashing
young soldier? The rustic beauty seems unequivocally smitten, and does
not disguise the compromising fact that 'she dotes on the military.'
The gallant son of Mars has been quartered on a prosperous farmer, who
loves good cheer and brave company; the corporal is made welcome at bed
and board, and the best in the house is prepared for his delectation.
The venerable Hawbuck does not, however, seem pleased with the way his
guest is carrying on with his buxom daughter, who is but too clearly
smitten with the soldier's charming freedoms and his fine feathers;
it is more than the parent bargained for, and even his dog is looking
on with astonishment. But the scandalised parent and the young rustic
lounging in the doorway, possibly an acknowledged sweetheart, are at
a discount; their authority is likely to be set at defiance. As for
the disconcerted swain whose dejected air and attitude express the
profundity of his despair, he will probably do something desperate;
in dudgeon at his blighted hopes he may very likely fall under the
beguiling corporal's spell, offer himself as a recruit, be 'listed,
and thenceforth forsake the plough-tail to follow the drum; a lasting
text against one of the many evils consequent upon the maintenance of a
standing army.
[Illustration: THE CORPORAL IN GOOD QUARTERS.]
_August 30, 1802._ _A Musical Family._ Published by R. Ackermann.
_September 12, 1802._ _Sorrow's Dry, or a Cure for the Heart-ache._
Designed and published by Thomas Rowlandson. Republished 1811.
Were I not resolv'd against the yoke
Of hapless marriage, never to be curst
With second Love, so fatal was the first,
To this one error I might yield again.--DRYDEN.
'Deborah Crossstich departed this life September 5, 1802, aged 62.'
The body of the departed wife is laid out in her coffin, propped on
trestles; on the plate let into the lid is engraved the above affecting
inscription.
The lamenting spouse is far gone in a mixed state of grief,
intoxication, and maudlin affection; he is making laudable efforts to
resign himself to his recent bereavement, and is endeavouring to allay
his sorrow, between the combined consolations of drink and the tender
solicitudes of a favourite maid, who is exerting herself to administer
comfort to her afflicted master, with her arm round his neck. The
personal belongings of the deceased--her watch, little articles
of jewellery, and plate--have evidently been ransacked by this
affectionate pair of unaffected and disinterested mourners. An open
book displays this familiar quotation, bearing somewhat disrespectful
application to the case of the departed:--
A smoky house and a scolding wife
Are the plagues of man's life.
Oh, what pleasure will abound
When my wife is laid in ground!
_November 20, 1802._ _Doctor Convex and Lady Concave._ Published by R.
Ackermann.