thing to the nerves as I then felt it. We remained silent, without any
sensations of that foolish pain which takes place when in such a circle
you look for ten minutes in one another's faces without saying a word.
Whilst this lasted, the monk rubbed his horn box upon the sleeve of his
tunic; and as soon as it had acquired a little air of brightness by
the friction, he made a low bow and said 'twas too late to say whether
it was the weakness or goodness of our tempers which had involved us
in this contest; but be it as it would, he begged we might exchange
boxes. In saying this he presented his to me with one hand as he took
mine from me in the other, and having kissed it, with a stream of good
nature in his eyes, he put it into his bosom--and took his leave.
I guard this box, as I would the instrumental parts of my religion,
to help my mind on to something better: in truth, I seldom go abroad
without it; and oft and many a time have I called up by it the
courteous spirit of its owner to regulate my own, in the jostlings of
the world: they had found full employment for his, as I learnt from
his story, till about the forty-fifth year of his age, when, upon
some military services ill requited, and meeting at the same time a
disappointment in the tenderest of passions, he abandoned the sword and
the sex together, and took sanctuary, not so much in his convent as in
himself.
I feel a damp upon my spirits as I am going to add, that in my last
return through Calais, upon enquiring after Father Lorenzo, I heard he
had been dead near three months, and was buried, not in his convent,
but, according to his desire, in a little cemetery belonging to it,
about two leagues off. I had a strong desire to see where they had
laid him--when, upon pulling out his little horn box, as I sat by his
grave, and plucking up a nettle or two at the head of it, which had no
business to grow there, they all struck together so forcibly upon my
affections, that I burst into a flood of tears. But I am as weak as a
woman; and I beg the world not to smile, but pity me.
MONTRIUL.
_The Bidet._--When all is ready, and every article is disputed and paid
for in the inn, unless you are a little soured by the adventure, there
is always a matter to compound at the door, before you can get into
your chaise; and that is with the sons and daughters of poverty, who
surround you. Let no man say, 'Let them go to the devil'--'tis a cruel
journey to send a few miserables, and they have had sufferings enow
without it. I always find it better to take a few sous out in my hand;
and I would counsel every gentle traveller to do so likewise: he need
not be so exact in setting down his motives for giving them--they will
be registered elsewhere.
* * * * *
Having settled all these small matters, I got into my postchaise with
more ease than ever I got into a postchaise in my life; and La Fleur
having got one large jack-boot on the far side of a little _bidet_
(post-horse), and another on this (for I count nothing of his legs), he
cantered away before me, as happy and as perpendicular as a prince.
But what is happiness! What is grandeur in this painted scene of life!
A dead ass, before we had got a league, put a stop to La Fleur's
career--his _bidet_ would not pass it; a contention arose betwixt them,
and the poor fellow was kicked out of his jack-boots the very first
kick.
La Fleur bore his fall like a French Christian, saying neither more or
less upon it than _Diable!_ so presently got up and came to the charge
again--then this way--then that way: and, in short, every way but by
the dead ass. La Fleur insisted upon the thing--and the _bidet_ threw
him.
'What's the matter, La Fleur,' said I, 'with this _bidet_ of thine?'
'_Monsieur_,' said he, '_c'est un cheval le plus opiniatre du monde_.'
'Nay, if he is a conceited beast, he must go his own way,' replied I.
So La Fleur got off him, and giving him a good sound lash, the _bidet_
took me at my word, and away he scampered back to Montriul. '_Peste!_'
said La Fleur.
* * * * *
_Le Diable!_ which is the first and positive degree, is generally used
for ordinary emotions of the mind, where small things only fall out
contrary to your expectation, such as--the throwing one's doublets--La
Fleur's being kicked off his horse, and so forth--cuckoldom, for the
same reason, is always--_Le Diable!_
But in cases where the cast has something provoking in it, as in that
of the _bidet's_ running away after--and leaving La Fleur aground in
jack-boots--'tis the second degree. 'Tis then _Peste!_
As there was no hunting down a frightened horse in jack-boots, there
remained no alternative but taking La Fleur either behind the chaise or
into it.
I preferred the latter, and in half an hour we got to the post-house at
Namport.
NAMPORT.
_The Dead Ass._--'And this,' said he, putting the remains of a crust
into his wallet, 'and this should have been thy portion,' said he,
'had'st thou been alive to have shared it with me.' I thought by the
accent it had been an apostrophe to his child; but it was to his ass,
and to the very ass we had seen dead in the road, which had occasioned
La Fleur's misadventure. The man seemed to lament it much; and it
instantly brought into my mind Sancho's lamentation for his; but he did
it with more true touches of nature.
The mourner was sitting upon a stone bench at the door, with the
ass's pannel and its bridle on one side, which he took up from time
to time--then laid them down--looked at them, and shook his head. He
then took his crust of bread out of his wallet again, as if to eat it;
held it some time in his hand, then laid it upon the bit of his ass's
bridle--looked wistfully at the little arrangement he had made, and
then gave a sigh.
The simplicity of his grief drew numbers about him, and La Fleur among
the rest, whilst the horses were getting ready; as I continued sitting
in the postchaise, I could see and hear over their heads.
[Illustration: LA FLEUR AND THE DEAD ASS.]
He said he had come last from Spain, where he had been from the
farthest borders of Franconia, and had got so far on his return home,
when his ass died. Everyone seemed desirous to know what business could
have taken so old and poor a man so far a journey from his own home.
It had pleased heaven, he said, to bless him with three sons, the
finest lads in Germany; but having, in one week, lost two of them by
the smallpox, and the youngest falling ill of the distemper, he was
afraid of being bereft of them all; and made a vow, if heaven would
not take him from him also, he would go, in gratitude, to St. Jago, in
Spain.
When the mourner got thus far in his story he stopped to pay Nature her
tribute, and wept bitterly.
He said heaven had accepted the conditions, and that he had set out
from his cottage with this poor creature, who had been a patient
partner of his journey--that it had eat the same bread with him all
the way and was unto him as a friend. Everybody who stood about heard
the poor fellow with concern. La Fleur offered him money. The mourner
said he did not want it--it was not the value of the ass, but the loss
of him. The ass, he said, he was assured loved him--and upon this told
them a long story of mischance upon their passage over the Pyrenean
mountains, which had separated them from each other three days: during
which time the ass had sought him as much as he had sought the ass, and
that they had neither scarce eat or drank till they met.
'Thou hast one comfort, friend,' said I, 'at least in the loss of thy
poor beast: I am sure thou hast been a merciful master to him.' 'Alas!'
said the mourner, 'I thought so when he was alive, but now he is dead
I think otherwise. I fear the weight of myself and my afflictions
together have been too much for him--they have shortened the poor
creature's days, and I fear I have them to answer for.' 'Shame on the
world!' said I to myself, 'did we love each other as this poor soul but
loved his ass, 'twould be something.'
1809. _Butler's Hudibras_, in three parts, written in the time of the
late wars, corrected and amended, with large annotations and preface,
by Zachary Grey, LL.D. Embellished with engravings by T. Rowlandson,
Esq. London: Printed for T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside. W. Hogarth, inv.;
Rowlandson, sc.
1. Frontispiece. Hudibras and Ralpho in the Stocks.
2. Setting out.
Then did Sir Knight abandon dwelling,
And out he rode a-colonelling.
3. The Battle.
The scatter'd rout return and rally,
Surround the place; the Knight does sally,
And is made pris'ner.
4. The Knight and Ralpho consult the Gymnosophist.
The Knight with various doubt posses't
To win the lady goes in quest
Of Sidrophel, the Rosy-Crucian,
To know the Dest'nies' resolution;
With whom b'ing met, they both chop logic
About the science astrologic;
'Till falling from dispute to fight,
The conj'rer's worsted by the Knight.
5. Sidrophel and Whacum consulting the firmament.
This said, he to his engine flew,
Plac'd near at hand in open view,
And rais'd it 'till it levell'd right
Against the glowworm tail of Kite,
Then peeping thro', Bless us (quoth he)
It is a planet, now I see,
And, if I err not, by his proper
Figure, that's like tobacco stopper,
It should be Saturn.
1809. _Surprising Adventures Of the Renowned Baron Munchausen._
Containing singular travels, campaigns, voyages, and adventures.
Embellished with numerous engravings by T. Rowlandson. London: Printed
for T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside.
Frontispiece.--Baron Munchausen's extraordinary flight on the back
of an eagle, and supported by a second eagle, from Margate over the
continents of Europe, South and North America, the Polar regions, and
back to Margate, within thirty-six hours.
The Baron arrives at Ceylon, combats and conquers two extraordinary
opponents (a lion and a crocodile).
The snow having melted, the Baron discovers his horse in the air,
secured by the bridle to the church steeple; the Baron proves himself a
good shot, cuts the bridle in two, and resumes his journey.
Is presented with a famous horse by Count Przolossky, with which he
performs many extraordinary feats; the horse is cut in two by the
portcullis of Oczakow, which the Baron only discovers when he leads his
spirited steed to drink at the fountain, and the water flows out at the
rear of the severed half.
Bathes in the Mediterranean, is swallowed by a fish, from which he is
extricated by dancing a hornpipe.
The Baron jumps into the sea with a Turkish piece of ordnance on his
shoulders (which fires a marble ball of three hundred pounds weight)
and swims across the Simois.
The ship, driven by a whirlwind, a thousand leagues above the surface
of the waters; the Baron discovers the inhabitants of the moon, with
some traders from the Dog Star.
Travelling in the South Sea they lose their compass; their ship slips
between the teeth of a fish unknown in this part of the world.
The Baron crosses the Thames without the assistance of a bridge,
ship, boat, balloon, or even his own will; being blown out of one
of the Tower guns in which he had fallen asleep, and the cannon is
unexpectedly fired to celebrate an anniversary.
1809. _The Beauties of Sterne_; comprising his humorous and descriptive
_Tales, Letters, &c._ Embellished by caricatures by Rowlandson, from
original drawings by Newton. Published by T. Tegg, Cheapside.
Frontispiece. The Dance at Amiens, &c.
1809. _Poetical Magazine._ Dedicated to the lovers of the Muse by the
Agent of the goddess, R. Ackermann. Published November 1, 1809, at R.
Ackermann's Repository of Arts, 101 Strand.
Introduction to _The Schoolmasters Tour_. Vol. 1.--'In the Tour, with
the first part of which we here present our readers, the author carries
his hero through a great variety of whimsical adventures, to the Lakes
and back again. As tours are a fashionable article in the literature of
the present day, we trust that the poetical peregrinations of Doctor
Syntax will come in for some share, at least, of the public applause,
to which we conceive it to be entitled. The lovers of humour will
not be displeased to be informed that it will be accompanied with a
considerable number of illustrative engravings.'
[Illustration: THE MANSION HOUSE MONITOR.]
CARICATURES SUPPLIED BY ROWLANDSON TO THE
_POETICAL MAGAZINE_.
VOLUME I.
1. Doctor Syntax setting out on his Tour to the Lakes May 1, 1809.
2. The Mansion House Monitor June 1 "
3. Doctor Syntax losing his way June 1 "
4. Doctor Syntax stopped by Highwaymen June 1 "
6. Doctor Syntax bound to a Tree by Highwaymen July 1 "
8. Doctor Syntax disputing his Bill with the Landlady Aug. 1 "
The Last Drop. A Woodcut. (Death striking the Drinker).
(See _April 5, 1811_) Aug. 1 "
10. Doctor Syntax copying the wit on the Window Sept. 1 "
12. Doctor Syntax entertained at College Oct. 1 "
13. Doctor Syntax pursued by a Bull Oct. 1 "
VOLUME II.
2. Doctor Syntax mistakes a gentleman's house for an Inn Nov. 1 "
4. Doctor Syntax meditating on the Tombstone Dec. 1 "
5. An illustration to 'Edwin and Matilda, or the Beach King.'
A legendary tale, in four cantos Dec. 1 "
The Baron addressing the Harpists at the banquet to Earl Edwin:--
'Cease, caitiffs! nor further insult with your noise
The ears of our noble young guest.
Hence, away! and bear with you those coarse thrumming toys!'
The minstrels departed,--when, raising his voice,
The Baron Earl Edwin address'd.
6. Doctor Syntax tumbling into the Water Jan. 1, 1810.
7. Illustration to 'Edwin and Matilda' Jan. 1 "
The Beach King discovering himself to Matilda:--
A truncheon of coral he grasp'd in his hand,
Which, tho' pond'rous, with ease he could swing:
Thus array'd was the monster so fear'd thro' the land;
Thus horribly form'd, by Matilda did stand
The mighty, enormous Beach King.
8. Doctor Syntax losing his money on the Raceground at
York Feb. 1, 1810.
10. Doctor Syntax at a Review March 1 "
12. Doctor Syntax with my Lord April 1 "
13. Doctor Syntax made free of the Cellar April 1 "
VOLUME III.
1. Doctor Syntax sketching the Lake May 1 "
3. Doctor Syntax sketching after Nature June 1 "
5. Doctor Syntax robbed of his Property July 1 "
7. Doctor Syntax sells Grizzle Aug. 1 "
9. Doctor Syntax and Rural Sports Sept. 1 "
11. Doctor Syntax and the Dairymaid Oct. 1 "
VOLUME IV.
1. Doctor Syntax at Liverpool Nov. 1 "
3. Doctor Syntax reading his Tour Dec. 1 "
5. Doctor Syntax Preaching Jan. 1, 1811.
7. Doctor Syntax and the Bookseller Feb. 1 "
9. Doctor Syntax at Covent Garden March 1 "
11. Doctor Syntax returned from his Tour April 1 "
13. Doctor Syntax taking possession of his Living May 1 "
The intermediate plates are landscapes, after anonymous artists,
engraved in aquatint by Hassell and others.
1809. Beresford (James). _An Antidote to the Miseries of Human Life._
8vo.
1809. _Rowlandson's Sketches from Nature._ Twelve views, drawn and
etched by T. Rowlandson. Aquatinted by Stadler.
1809. _The Art of Ingeniously Tormenting._ Republished by Tegg. Plates
by Woodward. 12mo.
1809. _Annals of Sporting._ By Caleb Quizem, Esq., and his various
Correspondents. Published by T. Tegg.
The Courtier is thrown in pursuit of his game,
The Poet's too often laid low,
Who, mounted on Pegasus, rides after Fame,
With 'Hark forward! Huzza! Tally-ho!'
1809. _The Trial of the Duke of York._ In 2 volumes. Published by T.
Tegg.
1809. _Annals of Sporting._ By Caleb Quizem. Republished by Tegg.
Plates by Woodward. 12mo.
Frontispiece. _The Bucephalus Riding Academy for Grown Gentlemen._ H.
Bunbury del., Rowlandson sc.
Titlepage. Vignette; the Author thrown from his Pegasus. Designed and
etched by T. Rowlandson.
Introduction. _Caleb Quizem, Esq._ Woodward del., Rowlandson sc.
_The Maid of Mim._
_Hounds._--1. Rugged and Tough. The Lion Hound. 2. The Black Straddler.
The Short-legg'd Stag Hound. Woodward del., Rowlandson sc.
_Game Wigs._--1. A Long Bob. A Short Bob. A Black Scratch. A Physical
Tie. A Sir Cloudesley Shovel. A Three Tier. 2. A Cauliflower. A Full
Bottom. A Short Queue. A Long Queue. A Rose Bag. A Full Bag.
Costume of Hog's Norton.--1. A back-front view of Miss Dickinson's New
Dress. 2. The Morning Dress of a Lady and Gentleman of Hog's Norton.
Fashionable Furniture at Hog's Norton.--1. Chimney Ornaments. Improved
Trencher. Hogs Norton Recess. Fashionable Looking-glass. Fashionable
Clock. 2. The Stocking Sweep. Colonnade of Streets. Fashionable Table.
Cobweb Frieze. Sarcophagus, Cellaret, Coal-scuttle. Fashionable Chair.
How a Man may Shoot his own Wig.
The Bailiff's Hunt:--
1. Going out in the Morning.
2. In Full Scent.
3. Breaking Cover.
4. The Pursuit.
5. At Fault.
6. The Second Escape.
7. Double and Squat.
8. The Seizure.
_The True Method of Sitting a Horse, Mathematically Delineated._
1. Mathematical Horsemanship.--Mr. Ralph Marrowbone, forming an obtuse
angle. 2. Tom Timorous, forming an acute angle. 3. Dickey Diaper,
forming a right angle. 4. Mr. Robert Rasp, letting fall a perpendicular
from his saddle. 5. Mr. Benjamin Buckskin and his horse performing
their evolutions within the circumference of a circle.
How to Vault from the Saddle.
1809. _Advice to Sportsmen_, selected from the notes of Marmaduke
Markwell. Republished by Tegg. Plates by Woodward, 12mo.
1809. _Advice to Sportsmen_, rural or metropolitan, noviciates or
grown persons; with anecdotes of the most renowned shots of the day,
exemplified from life, including recommendatory hints on the choice of
guns, dogs, and sporting paraphernalia. Also characters, costume, and
correspondence. Selected from the original notes of Marmaduke Markwell,
Esq., with sixteen illustrations by Thomas Rowlandson:--
But a bold pheasantry, their country's pride,
When once destroyed, can never be supplied.
'_Dedication._--To the most enlightened Sportsman in the metropolis of
the British Empire; equally keen in pursuit of the hare, the haunch,
the partridge, pheasant, woodcock, wild fowl, black or red game;
devourer of the amphibious turtle, and terror of the Dutch; dead shot
at a patriot; a marksman whose brilliant and sporting elocution can
start a _Jubilee_ in the worst of times, whose merry jokes can create
sport, and are the cause of sport to others: To Sir William Curtis,
Bart., M.P. &c., &c., &c., these effusions of a City Sportsman are with
all respect inscribed by his most devoted and obedient servant,
'MARMADUKE MARKWELL.
'Turn-again Lane, September 1, 1809.'
_Frontispiece._ The Cockney's first attempt at shooting flying.
_Illustrations._ Rat-hunting.
How to twist your neck.
Night.
Noon.
Morning.
The dangerous consequences of sporting.
Miss Spitfire's encounter.
Advantage of coupling sporting dogs.
Finishing a gamekeeper.
How to come in at the death.
How to cool your courage.
A duck hunt in Bartholomew Lane.
Neck or nothing.
A shooting parson or pot-hunter.
Evening.
1809. _The Pleasures of Human Life._ By Hilari Benevolus & Co., with
five plates by Rowlandson, &c. Published by Longmans.
1809. _The Pleasures of Human Life._ Investigated cheerfully,
elucidated satirically, promulgated explicitly, and discussed
philosophically, in a dozen dissertations on male, female, and neuter
pleasures. Interspersed with various anecdotes and expounded by
numerous annotations by Hilari Benevolus & Co. (Fellow of the London
Literary Society of Lusorits). (Mottoes from Milton, Dibdin, and Peter
Pindar.) Embellished with five illustrations and two headpieces.
London: Longmans & Co. Crown 8vo.
Front engraved by W. Bond, after W. Satchwell. Physiognomical vignette
on title-page engraved by W. Bond, from _Bell's Anatomy of Expression_.
Of Rowlandson's illustrations the author observes, in his preface:
'The five illustrative commendatory etchings do not require any verbal
explanation.'
Five prints by Rowlandson:--
1. Christopher Crabtree in the Suds. 2. Mr. Ego's marvellous
Story.
3. Connoisseurs, or Portrait Collectors!
(The 'collector' in question is slily pocketing a print while the
shopman's attention is diverted.)
4. A Brace of Full-grown Puppies, or my Dog and me.
5. Pleasures of Bond Street, or Fashionable Driving.
1809. T. Smollett: _Miscellaneous Works_. Twenty-six illustrations by
Rowlandson. 5 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh.
1809. _Gambado. An Academy for Grown Horsemen, &c._ 8vo. Published by
T. Tegg. (See 1808.)
1809. _Beauties of Tom Brown._ Frontispiece and illustrations by T.
Rowlandson. Published by T. Tegg. 12 mo.
1809. _Views in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Isle of Wight, &c._
1809. _Scandal: Investigation of the Charges brought against H.R.H. the
Duke of York by G. L. Wardle, Esq., M.P. for Devon, with the Evidence
and Remarks of the Members._ Containing fourteen scarce portraits by
Rowlandson, amongst which are Mrs. M. A. Clarke, Sir F. Burdett, Duke
of York, Colonel Wardle, &c. 2 vols., 12mo.
FOOTNOTES:
[10] Mary Moser, the lively lady Royal Academician, and famous
flower-painter, writing to Mrs. Lloyd, the first wife of the gentleman
she subsequently honoured with her hand, conveys the following account
of the reigning mode in town, to her friend in the country: 'Come to
London and admire our plumes; we sweep the sky! a duchess wears six
feathers, a lady four, and every milk-maid one at each corner of her
cap! Your mamma desired me to inquire the name of something she had
seen in the windows in Tavistock Street; it seems _she_ was afraid to
ask; but _I_ took courage, and they told me they were _rattle-snake
tippets_; however, notwithstanding their frightful name, they are not
unlike a _beaufong_, only the quills are made stiff, and springy in the
starching. Fashion is grown a monster! pray tell your operator that
your hair must measure just three quarters of a yard from the extremity
of one wing to the other.'
[11] 'Eighteen years before the date of the investigation (February
1809), Mrs. Clarke, then being about fourteen years of age, resided
with her mother and step-father in Black Raven Passage, Cursitor
Street. She was a very pretty, sprightly, gaily-disposed girl, being
very fond of showing herself, and attracting attention. At this time
Mr. Joseph Clarke, son of a respectable builder on Snow Hill (his
father was the "great contractor" of his day, and a _man reputed to
be enormously rich_) became enamoured of Miss Thompson, who readily
received his addresses. She eloped with him, and they lived together
about three years, when he married her. She conducted herself with
propriety, and they lived together decently several years; in the
course of which she bore him several children, four of whom are
alive.'--_Gentleman's Magazine_, February, 1809.
[12] The name of Mrs. Clarke's father was Thompson, and he, it appears,
was a master printer of some respectability, residing in Bowl and
Pin Alley, near White's Alley, Chancery Lane, where Miss Thompson
was ushered into the world, as Sterne has it, with 'squalls of
disapprobation at the journey she was compelled to perform.'
Upon the death of Mr. Thompson, his widow married a Mr. Farquhar,
who was engaged as a compositor in the printing house of Mr. Hughes.
Miss Thompson was occasionally employed in reading copy to the person
engaged as corrector of the press, in which situation she soon
attracted the notice of the son of the overseer, who, recognising
her abilities, had her placed at a boarding school at Ham, where the
young lady, whose 'capacity for elegant improvements' was, if we
trust her biographers, of an advanced order, soon acquired ornamental
accomplishments; and, from the natural quickness of her parts, she
returned, after an absence of two years, so completely altered in her
ideas that she thought proper to despise and treat with coldness the
attentions of Mr. Day, the well-meaning young gentleman who had been at
the charge of finishing her education, it is said, with the view to a
future union with this sprightly and promising female prodigy.
Her biographers have hinted at least one flirtation, possibly of a
harmless description, before she arrived at the age of seventeen, when
she threw in her future with Mr. Joseph Clarke, the hopeful son of a
wealthy builder and contractor in Snow Hill. After a union of many
years, during which she had experienced various vicissitudes, we find
that the misconduct of her husband, who seems, on the whole--from
the accounts of some of his contemporaries--to have done his best to
deserve the treatment he received, although there are two sides to
this story, determined the fascinating Mary Ann to trust to her own
resources for support.