A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 70

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 70

While the dissolution was impending, Doyle indicated the revival of

Whig prospects, “The Gheber worshiping the Rising Sun” (July 6, 1830)

shows Mr. (afterwards Lord) Brougham paying his devotions to “William

IV. Rex,” the head of the king on the gold coin, known as “a coronation

medal,” rising over the waters, and taking the place of the orb of day.

Parliament dissolved on July 24th. Owing to some intrigues of the old

campaigner at this emergency, the Duke of Wellington was made to appear

as “A Detected Trespasser,” ordered off the slopes of Windsor by “John

Bull, Ranger:” “Halloa, you sir; keep off the grass (see anecdote,

_Times_, July 19th).”

 

Another pictorial version of strategies in high life is entitled

“Anticipation; or, Queen Sarah’s visit to Bushy” (July 27, 1830). At

the door of the Lodge at Bushy, where resided the Duke and Duchess

of Clarence, is the carriage of Lady Jersey, with attendants in her

handsome liveries. One of her footmen is imparting the unwelcome

intelligence, “Duchess not at home, my lady.” The Duke of Wellington,

who is on horseback at the other side of the carriage, is consoling

Lady Jersey’s disappointment: “Never mind, never mind, I’ll get you

a key to what is going on here thro’ my dear little St. James’s

Marchioness.” The duchess’s footman, in the royal livery, cannot fathom

the intrigue: “I wonder what brings her down here now? I have been in

this place these twelve years, and never saw her here before!”

 

[Illustration: Henry Brougham.

 

King William IV.

 

THE GHEBER WORSHIPING THE RISING SUN. JULY 6, 1830. BY J. DOYLE (HB).]

 

What unknown marvels might be anticipated from the combinations of

party, is hinted in the “_Un_-Holy Alliance, or An Ominous Conjunction”

(July 29, 1830), showing the Duke of Cumberland and Lords Durham,

Grey, and Eldon in close confabulation. “Old Bags,” as the whilom lord

chancellor was irreverently christened, is characteristically “laying

down the law,” for the enlightenment of his comrades in this strangely

assorted quartette.

 

A general and somewhat conventional satire on the possible conduct of

candidates before, upon, and after their return, appeared among the

“Election Squibs and Crackers for 1830,” “Look on this Picture, and

on that.” “General Election--dedicated to Electors in General--the

difference between one hour after the return, and one month after.”

The voter represented is evidently a prosperous mechanic; he wears the

colours of the newly elected one in his hat, and is thus addressed by

the member he has contributed to return: “My worthy, my best friend,

it will be my constant study to comply with your wishes--how can I

serve you? Let me see you often; pray come to the Hall; we shall be

so happy to see you.” This overcoloured state of things is strangely

altered within a month; the candidate is now a full member, and is

evidently studying his own interests to the exclusion of those of his

constituents; in his hand is a peremptory Government “whip,” thus

worded: “Ministers wishing to pass the measure, your vote will be

required.” The legislation in question appears to threaten the welfare

of his late enthusiastic supporter, who has ventured to interview his

member on the momentous topic: “Sir, there is a Bill about to pass

that will quite ruin our trade, and bring our families to beggary. I

hope, sir, you will use your influence to throw it out.” The member

now wears an indignant __EXPRESSION__: “You are an impudent fellow! I

don’t know you, and, if I did, do you suppose I should be dictated

to, fellow?” This plate was executed by William Heath, and issued by

T. McLean, of the Haymarket. Perhaps the most notable feature is an

announcement that “Election caricatures can be executed for gentlemen

in three hours.” This advertisement, appended to the caricature in

question, is curious. Of course, for a not-extravagant consideration,

intending candidates could secure the playful services of William Heath

for rendering ridiculous or contemptible the persons and principles of

their antagonists, and for the exaltation of their own.

 

 

LOOK ON THIS PICTURE--AND ON THAT.

 

[Illustration: Before the Election.]

 

[Illustration: After the Election.]

 

 

ELECTION SQUIBS AND CRACKERS FOR 1830. BY W. HEATH.

 

[_Page 346._]

 

Political satirists, happily for themselves, as a rule (with one or

two exceptions, such as Sayer and HB) have soared above mere party

distinctions; and though it may at first sight strike the observer

as indicating a looseness of principles--rather, say, a freedom from

prejudices--that each gifted artist seems to lash and laugh at both

sides alternately to the best of his abilities, some allowance must be

made for the impartiality which enables these latter-day Juvenals to

detect the foibles of either faction. As a rule, it may be assumed the

old generation of famous caricaturists, taking Gillray, Rowlandson, and

George Cruikshank as the most eminent exponents, rather leaned to the

popular side of any given question; but, inclination apart, they were

just as capable of glorifying “the powers that be,” and of “dusting

the jackets” of the would-be reformers. Of this trio, Cruikshank

particularly prided himself, as he has himself recorded, upon espousing

the side of right against palpable wrong, and of championing the weak

against the strong. But, in spite of this pleasing illusion, his

caricatures are equally trenchant on either side--to-day the Regent is

demolished, to-morrow his unfortunate wife is held up to opprobrium,

with happy nonchalance and impartiality. In fact, it may be said of

Gillray, as the specimens of his ability in this direction sufficiently

demonstrate, that his pictorial satires against Pitt and the Tories

were equalled only by his satires directed against Fox and the Whigs,

or the youthful Burdett and the Radical reformers of his earlier day.

 

Apropos of the same general elections, we find our old friends,

Sir Francis Burdett and his whilom preceptor and champion, William

Cobbett, of _Political Register_ repute, engaged in what the artist

delineates as “A _Character_-istic Dialogue” (September 2, 1830).

“Peter Porcupine,” having parliamentary aspirations, is applying to

his ancient pupil and ally for a voucher: “Being much in want of a

character, I make bold, Sir Francis, to ask you for one; it appearing

that your benevolence in this way embraces all sorts of criminals,

you cannot consistently refuse me!” Burdett, in spite of this touching

reference to his exertions on behalf of the prisoner inmates of

Coldbath Fields, is turning a haughty front to the applicant: “I cannot

do anything for you; your character is already _Registered_.” With the

reformed parliament, Cobbett was returned for Oldham. In the House he

disappointed expectations, and was regarded as somewhat in the light of

a failure.

 

[Illustration: WILLIAM COBBETT--“PETER PORCUPINE.” BY J. GILLRAY.]

 

The usual changes of seats had taken place in the course of the

elections, and it was hinted that the Wellington-Peel Administration

might find it expedient to increase its strength by the infusion of

new blood, with a view to the “power-to-add-to-their-numbers” policy.

The chiefs still in office are shown by Doyle as visiting “The Noodle

Bazaar” (September 9, 1830, Q. and HB delt.). Reviewing the files

of various assorted “bustoes,” Wellington, using his eye-glass, is

observing to his colleague, “Peel, I am in great want of a few good

heads to place in our Cabinet before the opening of the new House

in October, and I see some here which I think would answer, if they

could be had on reasonable terms.” Peel, alive to the results of the

elections, is replying, “I perceive that the places of some have been

changed, and their value raised since I last saw them, and pray observe

the strange mixture of heads upon the _upper shelf_.” The Peers who,

according to the notification below them, “May be had separately or

together,” occupy the upper shelf, and below is a cabinet of busts for

sale, ready assorted. The shelved lords offer a motley choice: Lords

Grey, Eldon, Holland, Lansdowne, the Duke of Cumberland, etc.,--all

statesmen out of work. Below the upper shelf is a platform on which

is an assorted ready-made ministry (of busts) arranged in a regular

order. “This group is to be sold in one lot. Every head has its price

marked on it.” The respective busts represent Huskisson (president of

the Board of Trade), Grant (colonies), Palmerston (foreign secretary),

Melbourne (home secretary), etc. On a pedestal marked “Yorkshire, to

wit,” is the brazen bust of Henry Brougham, the plinth with the word

“Rolls” struck out in favour of “Chancery.” The bust of Hume in marble

stands on a square and massive pediment, marked “Middlesex.” O’Connell

is below in clay; he is thus ticketed: “This head won’t be sold--(until

it be bought).” A row of lesser men on a shelf in the distance bears

the advertisement, “These small busts may be had remarkably cheap.”

The bust of Charles X. is just upset; while, on a high plinth, marked

“The People’s Choice--a French pattern of inestimable value,” stands

his successor, Louis Philippe. The Dey of Algiers is also thrown aside,

while Lords Manners, Redesdale, and Sidmouth are among the “antiques,”

obsolete patterns, and “oddments.”

 

The proverbial independence of John Bull’s character is playfully

called in question (September 10, 1830), the national prototype being

represented (not for the first or last time) as “The man wot is easily

led by the nose.” The _Times_ is the potential leading organ to which

John Bull is attached in the way described; he is exclaiming, in

happy delusion, “What a glorious thing it is to enjoy the liberty and

independence of an Englishman!”

 

The displacement of the Wellington-Peel Cabinet followed a little

later on. We next see the Duke of Cumberland surrendering office:

“Resignation and Fortitude; or, the Gold Stick.” The king is seated

busied in State affairs, the ex-Gold Stick, handing in the wand of

office, is remarking, “I have now only to cut my stick and be off!”

William IV., still pen in hand, replies briefly, “Thank ye, brother,

thank ye,” being evidently reconciled both to his situation and the

enormous sacrifice involved.

 

Incidentally we find a reference to the general election which was then

engaging public attention; Doyle has ingeniously given a novel turn to

his view of one of the candidates, by introducing a comparison with a

performer who was also enjoying popular notice, “The Rival Candidates”

(August 9, 1830). There are two hustings erected, and the crowd of free

and independent electors is filling the intervening space. The satire

is evidently aimed at Sir Alexander Grant, who, standing in front of

his committee, is pointing, with a self-satisfied air, to his chin, of

which Doyle has made the most. His rival is Michel Boai, “the musical

wonder,” a Tyrolese performer, who “played tunes on his chin” by sheer

muscular force. He is shown hammering his nether jaw with his fists,