English Caricaturists and Graphic Humourists of the Nineteenth Century. Graham Everitt
Caricatures possess so remarkable an Interest.—“The Scourge.”—Lord Sidmouth’s Bill to amend the Toleration Act.—Opposition to the Measure by the Nonconformists.—George’s Satire upon them.—Satire upon the Medical Profession.—“The Satirist, or Monthly Meteor.”—“Fashion.”—“The Loyalists’ Magazine.”—An Early Satire.—“Meditations amongst the Tombs.”—Other Satires of 1813.—“Little Boney gone to Pot.”—Alexander of Russia and the Duchess of Oldenburg.—The Princess Caroline.—Joanna Southcott.—The Obnoxious Corn Laws of 1815.—Satires thereon.—Escape of Napoleon.—Outlawed by the Powers.—Excitement caused by this Event.—George’s Satires thereon.—Napoleon endeavours to Establish Friendly Relations.—Silent Hostility of Europe.—He Sets out for the Army.—George’s Satire thereon.—Surrender of Bonaparte.—The Bellerophon off the English Coast.—Other Satires of 1815.—The Regent’s Repugnance to Retrenchment and Reform.—Marriage of the Princess Charlotte.—Satire on the Purchase of the “Elgin Marbles.”—Other Satires of 1816.—John Bull’s Bankruptcy Proceedings.—Remanded for Extravagance.—His “Schedule.”—Seditious Troubles of 1817.—A Satire on the Princess Caroline.—Death of the Princess Charlotte.—Other Satires of 1817—of 1818.—The “Bank Restriction Note.”—Satires of 1819.—Queen Caroline and other Caricatures of 1820 and 1821.—Death and Funeral of the Queen.—The Populace force the Procession to go through the City.—The Military fire on the People.—Alderman Sir William Curtis in Highland Costume.—Indignation of the King.—Satires on both.—Statue of Achilles.—Other Caricatures of 1822.—Satires of 1823 and 1824.—Joint Stock Company Mania of 1825.—Undated Satires.—Amazing value of George Cruikshank’s Caricatures.
pp. 125-166.
CHAPTER VIII.
George Cruikshank as a Book Illustrator.—Defects and Excellencies.—Women, Horses, Trees.—“Greenwich Hospital.”—Sikes and the Dog.—Jonathan Wild.—Simon Renard and Winwike.—“Born a Genius and Born a Dwarf.”—Its History.—Randalph and Hilda at Ranelagh.—Sale of the Shadow.—Sailors Carousing.—Paying off a Jew.—Simpkin Dancing.—The Last Cab Driver.—Dominie Sampson.—Dumbiedikes.—Fall of the Leaf.—Taurus.—Libra.—Revolution at Madame Tussaud’s.—Theatrical Fun Dinner.—“Gone!”—Duke of Marlborough’s Boot.—The Two Elves.—Witches’ Frolic.—Ghosts.—Jack o’ Lantern.—Devils.—The Gin Shop.—Redgauntlet.—Fagin in the Condemned Cell.—Murder of Sir Rowland Trenchard.—Xit Wedded to the Scavenger’s Daughter.—Mauger Sharpening his Axe.—Massacre at Tullabogue, etc.—His Genius.
pp. 167-188.
CHAPTER IX.
The Sleep of Thirty Years.—Causes of George Cruikshank’s Decadence Insufficiently Understood.—Professor Bates’ Theory.—Charles Dickens’s Nervousness (?).—Why Cruikshank was Unfitted to Illustrate his Novels.—The Rejected Illustration to Oliver Twist.—Quarrel with Bentley.—Guy Fawkes Illustrations.—“Ainsworth’s Magazine.”—Progress of the Cruikshank versus Bentley Campaign.—Cruikshank’s Declaration of War.—His Tactics.—“Our Library Table.”—Quarrel with Harrison Ainsworth.—Cruikshank’s Claim to be Originator of Two of his Stories Considered.—A word for Harrison Ainsworth.—Popularity and Success of his Novels.—Charles Lever’s “Arthur O’Leary.”—Cruikshank’s final Leap in the Dark.—Its Fatal Consequences.—Crusade against Drink.—“Worship of Bacchus.”—His Work Falls away.—Thirty Years of Artistic Sterility.—Fairy Stories turned into Temperance Tracts.—Forgotten!
pp. 189-207.
CHAPTER X.
Birth of Robert Seymour.—Starts as a Painter in Oils.—Death of George IV.—His Contemptible Character.—Sale of his Wardrobe.—Order for General Mourning.—“The Adelaide Mill.”—Revolution of 1830.—Dismissal of the German Band.—St. John Long the Quack.—Administering an Oath.—The “Humorous Sketches.”—“Book of Christmas.”—“New Readings of Old Authors.”—“Figaro in London.”—À Beckett’s Editorial Amenities.—Feud between him and Seymour.—Seymour Caricatures À Beckett.—“Figaro” passes into the hands of Mayhew.—Re-engagement of Seymour.—Origin of the “Pickwick Papers.”—The Rejected Etching.—Suicide of Seymour.—His Claim to be the “Inventor” of “Pickwick” considered.
pp. 208-234.
CHAPTER XI.
The Agitation for Reform in 1830-32.—The Marquis of Blandford’s Scheme of Reform.—Strange State of the English Representative System of those Days.—O’Connell’s Scheme.—Lord John Russell’s “Resolutions” Rejected.—Dearth of Political Caricaturists at this Time.—HB.—Secret of the Success of his “Political Sketches.”—His Style a Complete Innovation.—“I’ll be your Second.”—Unpopularity of the Duke of Cumberland.—“My Dog and my Gun.”—Lord John Russell Introduces a Reform Bill.—Second Reading Carried by a Majority of One.—General Election.—Lord John Russell’s Second Reform Bill Passes the House of Commons.—Deputation to the Lords.—“Bringing up our Bill.”—The Lords Throw it Out.—Lord John Russell again brings in a Bill.—Ministers again in a Minority in the Lords.—Earl Grey tenders certain Alternatives.—Excitement caused by the Opposition of the Lords.—Perplexity of the King.—How he Overcame the Opposition of the Peers.—William IV. as Johnny Gilpin.—The King as Mazeppa and Sinbad the Sailor.—Outrage on the Duke of Wellington.—“Taking an Airing in Hyde Park.”—“Auld Lang Syne.”—“A Hint to Duellists.”—“A Great Subject Dedicated to the Royal College of Surgeons.”—Sir Francis Burdett.—“Following the Leader.”—“The Dog and the Shadow.”—“A Race for the Westminster Stakes.”—“A Fine Old English Gentleman.”—“Jim Crow Dance and Chorus.”
pp. 235-253.
CHAPTER XII.
Political Sketches of HB. (continued).—Lord John Russell.—“Jonah.”—Reduction of the Stamp on Newspapers.—How it was evaded.—Arguments of the Opponents of the Measure.—Hard and Soft Soap versus Newspapers.—Strange Arguments of the Newspaper Proprietors of the Day.—“The Rival Newsmongers.”—Brougham Watches for the Door of Preferment being Opened.—“The Gheber Worshipping the Rising Sun.”—Made Lord Chancellor.—“A Select Specimen of the Black Style.”—A Scene in the House of Lords.—“The Duel that Did Not Take Place.”—Dissolution of Parliament in 1834.—Brougham’s Royal “Progress” through Scotland.—Annoyance of William IV., who Determines to Get Rid of Him.—“The Fall of Icarus.”—“The Vaux and the Grapes.”—The Irish Coercion Bill of 1833.—Irish Disaffection which led Up to It.—List of Irish Crimes for One Year.—Scenes between English and Irish Members.—“Prisoners of War.”—Good Effects of the Coercion Bill.—Irish Agitators of 1833 and 1883 Compared.—O’ Connell and the Irish Peasant.—Unscrupulous Political Conduct of O’Connell.—“The Comet of 1835.”—“Doctor Syntax [i.e. Peel] on his Faithful Steed in Search of the Picturesque.”—Amazing Number of HB’s Political Sketches.—His failings.—His Imitators and their Fate.
pp. 254-276.
CHAPTER XIII.
John Leech.—Birth.—At Charterhouse.—The