: Rowlandson the Caricaturist; a Selection from His Works. Vol. 1 by Grego Joseph Rowlandson Thomas Illustrator - English wit and humor Pictorial; Rowlandson Thomas 1756-1827

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setting a punch-bowl over the dog's head. The arms of a sweetly pretty Bacchante are entwined round the neck of the maudlin reveller. Beside the well-filled table sits a youthful military 'blood;' another nymph, whose adolescent charms are liberally displayed, is seated on the knee of this son of Mars. The young lady is evidently disposed to be frolicsome, since she is flourishing in the air a full-bottomed wig, which she has snatched from the head of a corpulent Silenus, in whom age has failed to bring sober reason or to correct frivolity; this ancient buck is deservedly getting his face scratched and clawed in an amorous struggle with a handsome maiden, dressed in a hat and feathers, who is forcibly repelling the advances of the elderly rake.

With clasped hands and bended knees, They humbly sought the Count to please, And begged admission to his house. Not that for him they cared a louse, But wished within his walls to shine, And show those charms they think divine. His Ex. beheld these belles unmov'd-- His back their impudence reproved.

Then Moses reply'd: 'Sir, the parish will chide For keeping them out in cold weather.' 'Then, Moses,' quoth he, 'Go and tell 'em from me I'll bury them warm all together!'

'But, sir, it rains hard; Pray have some regard.' 'Regard! ay, 'tis that makes me stay, For no corpse, young or old, In rain can catch cold; But faith, Moses, you and I may!'

Moses begg'd he'd be gone, Saying, 'Sir, the rain's done; Arise, and I'll lend you my hand.' 'It's hard,' quoth the Vicar, 'To leave thus my liquor-- To go when I'm sure I can't stand.'

At length, tho' so troubled, To the churchyard he hobbled, Lamenting the length of the way. Then 'Moses,' said he, 'Were I a Bishop, d'ye see, I need neither walk, preach, or pray!'

The whole composition is more humorous than reverential, but it indicates the taste of the period, according to the last lines:--

'And thus we have carried the farce on: The taste of the times Will relish our rhymes, When the ridicule runs on a parson.'

Wigstead, whose name is associated with authorship , has painted the professional gentleman in no flattering colours; the man of letters is wretchedly lean in person, and abjectly subservient in manner to the trafficker who is buying his ideas; his hat is held respectfully under his arm, and his manuscript, which he is endeavouring to recommend to his patron, is in his hand. One of the bookseller's clients, a respectable Church dignitary, who is looking through the library, with great owl-like horn spectacles on his reverend nose, is present at the interview, and is regarding the poor literary hack with an air of inflated superiority.

F. Wheatley A Coast Scene, fishermen, fisherwomen, &c. " A Companion " Gainsborough A Sketch; trees, cottages, &c. " Cattle, river side. F. Wheatley A Fair. Bartolozzi A Pair of Cupids. Barret and Gilpin Mares and Foals. " Cattle. Gainsborough Landscape sketch. Mortimer A Storm at Sea. Gainsborough Cows. Zucchi Harmony. Two nymphs singing, another playing a lyre. Mortimer The Philosopher. Barret Ruins, and a Park. Mortimer A Study. Barret Ruins, &c. Gainsborough A Cottage, &c. " An Open Landscape. Mortimer Scene in 'The Tempest,' from Shakespeare. Republished 1801. J. P. Thompson, Soho. G. Barret Lake Scene. Saurey Gilpin, R.A. Horses. G. Holmes The Sage and his Pupil. Michael Angelo Leda and the Swan. G. B. Cipriani Sleeping Venus and Love.

FOOTNOTES:

Lord Thurlow, whose private life, if we may believe the caricaturists, was not of the purest.

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