Political quadrille - the game up

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Charles Williams
1796-1866
Political quadrille - the game up
Peel 1902
Provenance: 
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
Notes: 

"Plate 2d."
Lettered: "Pubd August 1808 by Walter No 7 Cornhill."
Library's copy partially trimmed within plate mark.

Summary: 

There are two card-tables, but Napoleon's table (r.) is being overturned by a Spaniard who leans across the table to take him by the throat; in the turmoil the Pope's chair has been overturned, and the Pope sprawls on the ground. At George III's table, the chair on his left., that of the King of Spain, is empty. The King, who wears military uniform, has risen from his chair, and looks through his glass at the fracas; in his right hand is a cudgel inscribed "Heart of Oak". He says: "What! What, a dust eh? so much the better - Boney got the worst of the game, I must lend a hand." The Tsar, seated as before, looks over his right shoulder at Napoleon, his left hand on his sheathed sword; he says: "Now is the time to rub off the rust of Tilsit. The King of Prussia has risen from his chair to watch the brawl; he raises a bandage from his eyes, and says: "If I don't take advantage of the present opportunity I shall indeed be a prussian Cake." Napoleon holds in his hand the King of Diamonds; his chair is overturned, other cards and his hat lie on the ground. The ferocious Spaniard, who wears a feathered hat, says to him: "I tell you you are a Scoundrel, and if you do not restore my King whom you have stolen from the other table and reinstate Ponto [the Pope] - by the honor of a Spanish patriot I will strangle you." Napoleon, much alarmed, answers: "Dont be so boisterous I only borrow'd him, merely to make up the pack." The Emperor of Austria, pushed from the table by the Spaniard, stands behind the latter, reaching up to take his cocked hat and sword from the wall. He looks over his shoulder, saying, "Ah! Ah, the game has taken a different turn from what I expected, I must not be idle." Holland has drawn his chair away from the falling table, and smokes meditatively, watching Napoleon. He says: "Donder and Blixens I be quite tire'd of de game Yaw! Yaw now is de time for me to rise." The prostrate Pope looks angrily over his shoulder at Napoleon; his cross and tiara are on the ground. He still holds cards. On the backs of the chairs, where visible, are the emblems of their occupants: the Spanish royal arms, a Russian bear, a Prussian and an Austrian eagle, the Pope's keys.

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