"O the roast beef of Old England," etc.
[Illustration: ROAST BEEF AT THE GATE OF CALAIS.]
The thought on which this whimsical and highly characteristic print
is founded, originated in Calais, to which place Mr. Hogarth,
accompanied by some of his friends, made an excursion in the year
1747.
Extreme partiality for his native country was the leading trait of
his character; he seems to have begun his three hours' voyage with a
firm determination to be displeased at everything he saw out of Old
England. For a meagre powdered figure, hung with tatters, _à-la-mode
de Paris_, to affect the airs of a coxcomb and the importance of a
sovereign, is ridiculous enough; but if it makes a man happy, why
should he be laughed at? It must blunt the edge of ridicule to see
natural hilarity defy depression; and a whole nation laugh, sing, and
dance under burdens that would nearly break the firm-knit sinews of a
Briton. Such was the picture of France at that period, but it was a
picture which our English satirist could not contemplate with common
patience. The swarms of grotesque figures who paraded the streets
excited his indignation, and drew forth a torrent of coarse abusive
ridicule not much to the honour of his liberality. He compared them
to Callot's Beggars, Lazarus on the painted cloth, the Prodigal
Son, or any other object descriptive of extreme contempt. Against
giving way to these effusions of national spleen in the open street
he was frequently cautioned, but advice had no effect; he treated
admonition with scorn, and considered his monitor unworthy the name
of Englishman. These satirical ebullitions were at length checked.
Ignorant of the customs of France, and considering the gate of Calais
merely as a piece of ancient architecture, he began to make a sketch.
This was soon observed; he was seized as a spy, who intended to draw
a plan of the fortification, and escorted by a file of musqueteers
to M. la Commandant. His sketch-book was examined leaf by leaf, and
found to contain drawings that had not the most distant relation to
tactics. Notwithstanding this favourable circumstance, the Governor
with great politeness assured him, that had not a treaty between
the nations been actually signed, he should have been "under the
disagreeable necessity of hanging him upon the ramparts:" as it was,
he must be permitted the privilege of providing him a few military
attendants, who should do themselves the honour of waiting upon
him while he resided in the dominions of the Grande Monarque. Two
sentinels were then ordered to escort him to his hotel, from whence
they conducted him to the vessel; nor did they quit their prisoner
until he was a league from shore, when, seizing him by the shoulders,
and spinning him round upon the deck, they said he was now at liberty
to pursue his voyage without further molestation.
So mortifying an adventure he did not like to hear recited, but has
in this print recorded the circumstance which led to it. In one
corner he has given a portrait of himself, making the drawing; and
to show the moment of arrest, the hand of a serjeant is upon his
shoulder.
Mr. Hogarth's friend Forest soon afterwards wrote the following
cantata, which contains so whimsical a description of the principal
figures, that I make no apology for inserting it:--