A hint, to the blind & foolish--or the Bourbon Dynasty in danger!!

In this dynamic caricature, the newly restored Louis XVIII occupies the central position. Depicted with his enormous stomach and large, gouty feet, he sits, blind, in a wheelchair throne and is pushed down a ramp by elf-like fools. As he begins his descent, Louis XVIII continues to make his grandiose speech while in his right hand he waves a flaming "Holy Roman Candle," and in his left a "Saw of Justice." Thus enflamed by blind ambition and empty rhetoric, the king and his minions chant for war. At the bottom of the ramp, a guillotine (r.) with outstreched arms reaches for the Bourbon king--his next victim. In lower left corner of the sheet, the figures of the deceased Louis XVI, here exhibiting his decapitated head, and Napoleon warn him of the consequences of ambition. Clearly, this new Louis has not learned the lessons of Louis XVI, or of Napoleon, who chastise him from the beyond. In the right background of the sheet, a group of soldiers emerge from the Chamber of Deputies. An elegantly dressed Deputy, Manuel, makes an eloquent speech while he is escorted out of the building. To the right of this group, members of the National Guard refuse to participate in Manuel's expulsion. Print has been torn and mended at the mid-left of the sheet. In this dynamic caricature, the newly restored Louis XVIII occupies the central position. Depicted with his enormous stomach and large, gouty feet, he sits, blind, in a wheelchair throne and is pushed down a ramp by elf-like fools. As he begins his descent, Louis XVIII continues to make his grandiose speech while in his right hand he waves a flaming "Holy Roman Candle," and in his left a "Saw of Justice." Thus enflamed by blind ambition and empty rhetoric, the king and his minions chant for war. At the bottom of the ramp, a guillotine (r.) with outstreched arms reaches for the Bourbon king--his next victim. In lower left corner of the sheet, the figures of the deceased Louis XVI, here exhibiting his decapitated head, and Napoleon warn him of the consequences of ambition. Clearly, this new Louis has not learned the lessons of Louis XVI, or of Napoleon, who chastise him from the beyond. In the right background of the sheet, a group of soldiers emerge from the Chamber of Deputies. An elegantly dressed Deputy, Manuel, makes an eloquent speech while he is escorted out of the building. To the right of this group, members of the National Guard refuse to participate in Manuel's expulsion. Print has been torn and mended at the mid-left of the sheet. Published by J. Fairburn, 1823-03-10. British Museum, BM 14510. Caption: Pubd March 10th 1823 by J. Fairburn Broadway Ludgate Hill London Dialogue: Louis XVIII: "War! War! War!-- war with Spain is indispensable - We will carry our measures at home & abroad with the point of the Bayonet - the Bourbons must be absolute Monarchs- the People must be slaves!!!" Dialogue: National Guard Prisoner: "Let others seek to debase the national character; they have no doubt a guilty interest in doing so. I will do everything in my power to preserve it's virtue.-- I do not expect an act of Justice; it is to one of vengence P that I resign myself.-- Sent to this Chamber by the will of those who had the right to send me here, I shall only leave it through the violence of those who have not the right to exclude me; and if this resolution on my part may draw on my head the gravest of dangers, I console myself that the field of liberty has sometimes been fertilized by generous blood." Dialogue: Soldiers: "We will not obey the order to expel M. Manuel- comrades, what say you to the Right about?" Dialogue: Guillotine: "What are you at!! What are you a'rter!!! I am really surprised at your blind stupidity!-- My appearance here-I assure you is with the most friendly intentions to warn you of your impending danger!-- But if you are bent on your own destruction, why come along!!-- Ca ira, ca ira, ca ira." Dialogue: Napoleon: "Silly Bourbon! Remember the consequences of my interfering with Spain--" Dialogue: Louis XVI: "O! Brother, Brother, be warned by my unhappy fate!!" Dialogue: Fools: chanting "War! War! War! Vive le Roi! Vive le Roi! Shove away Shatte Brain, this is a Glorious cause! Vive le Roi!"