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Boney and Talley, September 1803

 Item — Box: LF104/7 Box 1
Reference code: LF104/7/40
Boney and Talley, September 1803
Boney and Talley, September 1803

Scope and Contents

Artist: James Gillray. Published: Hannah Humphrey. Heading to a broadside of twenty-nine verses printed in three columns, with the (printed) title given above. The interior of a carcass-butcher's slaughter-house, the carcasses of animals suspended from the wall. Through the doorway (left) is seen a rock rising from the sea on which stands a bellowing bull; at the base of the rock is a British fleet. Napoleon, the butcher, with cleaver and knife, makes frantic efforts to reach the (distant) bull, but is restrained by Talleyrand who holds him round the waist. He wears top-boots, one inscribed '7 Leagues', with apron, and rolled-up shirt-sleeves, showing 'R T' [? 'Returned Transport'] branded on his left. arm. On one flap of Talleyrand's oddly shaped cocked hat is a cross, to indicate the ci-devant Bishop of Autun. The head of the Russian bear looks in at the door, gazing menacingly at Napoleon. In the foreground lies a bulky body from which head, hands, and feet have been chopped; to it is skewered a paper: 'Germanic Body'; the severed right hand lies on a paper inscribed 'Hanover'. On the extreme left is a round wicker cage surmounted by the Papal tiara, inscribed: 'From Rome and Not worth Killing'; it contains a fox and other small animals. On the extreme right is a dog-kennel inscribed 'Prussia' and 'Put up to Fatten'; from it a lean greyhound on a short chain puts out its head to lap greedily at a trough of 'Consular Whipt Syllabub'. Behind this is the butcher's block, on which lies a cleaver; blood drips from it into a receptacle inscribed 'Treasury'. Behind Napoleon, in a trough inscribed 'Jaffa Cross Breed', are the bodies of six turbaned Moslems; blood gushes from the trough into a tank inscribed 'Glory'. On the wall hang carcasses, &c. (left to right): a ram ticketed 'True Spanish - Fleec'd'; a bleeding calf's head, a simian creature with a tail labelled 'Native Breed'; an ass, ticketed 'From Switzerland', a bloated pig 'From Holland'. Below the title: 'New Style - No Quarter Day!' The verses are a dialogue between 'Boney and Talley' on the possibilities of plunder and conquest. Talleyrand restrains Bonaparte from a mad rush at the bull, regardless of the intervening water. The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 26th, and 27th of 29 verses:

"Here's Parma, Placentia; there's Naples and Rome;" Talley smil'd - "They are nothing but bone, Sir!" "For the present pass Prussia; "What think you of Russia?" "'Twere as good that we leave her alone, Sir!"

"My ambition unsated, my fury unquench'd, "Let Europe now shake to her bases; "For, my banner unfurl'd, "I'll defy all the world, And spit in th' ambassadors' faces."

Seeing raw-head and bloody-bones wondrous irate, Talley turn'd o'er the leaf with his finger; "Here's Hanover - if - " "If what?" in a tiff Cries Boney, "Tell Mortier to bring her.

Little Boney shook hands then with Talley the good; (And thought how he best might dispatch him;) Whilst Talley, as meek, Kiss'd the Mussulman's cheek, (And swore in his heart to o'ermatch him.)

They drank to their hopes, - hob-a-nobb'd to their scheme, Which promis'd such royal diversion; Thus cordial they sat, And, in harmless chit-chat Sketch'd the plan of this water excursion'. Description from the British Museum.

Dates

  • Creation: September 1803

Conditions Governing Access

Physical item available by appointment in our Reading Room

Extent

1.0 Item(s)

Language of Materials

English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository

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