'Veue de la Place des Victoires où M. le Mareschal Duc de la Feuillade a dressé un monument public à la gloire de Louis le Grand, de la statue de ce Monarque couronné par la Victoire, accompagnée de Trophées, de Médailles, de bas-reliefs, et d'inscriptions, sur les actions glorieuses de sa vie et de son règne. Le 28 Mars, 1686.'
Numerous highflown praises of the King were engraved on the base of this vainglorious monument, as well as a list of the various engagements fought in the reign of Louis the Magnificent.
The principal inscription will give a fair impression of the nature of these panegyrics:--[36]
'_A Louis le Grand, le père et le conducteur des armées toujours heureux._--Apres avoir vaincu ses Ennemis, Protegé ses alliez. Adjousté de tres puissants peuples à son Empire, Assuré les Frontières par des places imprenables, joint l'Ocean à la Méditerranée. Chassé les pirates de toutes les mers, Reformé les Loix, Destruit l'hérésie, porté par le bruit de son nom les nations les plus Barbares à le venir révérer des extremitez de la terre. Et reglé parfaitement toutes choses au dedans et au dehors par la grandeur de son courage et de son génie.
'Francois Vicomte Daubusson, Duc de la Feuillade, Pair et Mareschal de France, Gouverneur du Dauphine, et Colonel des Gardes Françoises, 'Pour perpetuelle memoire' 'A la postérité.'
_November 29, 1789._ _Mercury and his Advocates Defeated, or Vegetable Intrenchment._--This print introduces a collision between two systems of medical treatment. The scene is Swainson's depôt for _Velno's Vegetable Syrup_, Frith Street, Soho. _List of Cures, in 1788_, 5,000; _in 1789_, 10,000. Swainson has entrenched himself in the centre of a barricade, formed of his specifics, a bottle of which he is exhibiting, with an air of triumph, to the posse of old practitioners, who, armed with dissecting-knives, mortars, mercury, prescriptions, and mineral pills, are preparing for a furious onslaught upon the innovator, whose introduction of _Velno's Syrup_ has deprived them of the support of their profitable clients.
1789. _A Dull Husband._--An interior scene, introducing us to a drawing-room of more refined character than Rowlandson generally selects for representation. The owners evidently occupy a wealthy position in life. The lady has musical tastes, it appears; in the background is a harpsicord, the fair performer is playing the harp, and a guitar is lying at her feet. The husband has no soul for sweet sounds, or the soothing harmonies which his elegant companion has produced have lulled him into forgetfulness; however it may happen, the gentleman is very evidently, and unpoetically, fast asleep.