HOGARTH'S SATIRES 125 



little more spirit and a little less of religious bigotry. 

 William could not but perceive that his principles and 

 not his person were acclaimed, and when he gave the 

 King leave to retire to Rochester, he both knew that 

 James desired an opportunity to escape from the 

 kingdom, and hoped he would use it. And he did use 

 the chance so gladly given him, secretl}^ departing from 

 Rochester in the small hours of a December morning, 

 and making for Ambleteuse on the French coast in 

 a fishing- smack. 



XXIV 



This was the last romantic event that befell at 

 Rochester, and it fitly closed a stirring history. 



But Chatham and Rochester, although outward 

 romance had departed, did not cease to be interested 

 in naval and military affairs. Indeed, they have 

 grown continually greater on them. 



It was in 1756 that the plates of England and 

 France were published by Hogarth. We were suffering 

 then from one of those panic fears of invasion by the 

 French to which this country has been periodically 

 subject, and these efforts were consequently calculated 

 to have a large sale. Hogarth, of course, after his 

 arrest for sketching at Calais, was morbidly, vitriolically 

 l^atriotic, and his work is earnest of his feelings. 

 The English are seen drilling in the background of the 

 first plate, while in front of the " Duke of Cumberland " 

 inn a recruit is being measured, and smiles at the 

 caricature of the King of France which a grenadier is 

 ])ainting on the wall. A long inscription proceeds 

 from the mouth of His Most Christian Majesty, " You 

 take a my fine ships, you be de Pirate, you be de Teef, 

 me send you my grand Armies, and hang you all, 

 Morbleu," and he grasps a gibbet to emphasize the 

 words. Meanwhile, a fifer plays " God Save the King " ; 

 a soldier in the group has placed his sword across a great 



