Punch (9.1845)

24

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

THE ABDICATION OF DON CARLOS.

in-Chief of my armies. As she did me no good service, (otherwise, how
should I have been an exiie here at Bourges ?)—I, the King, dismiss
Field-Marshal Nuestra Senora del Carmen from the command of my
have taken our time about troops, and place in her stead, N. Senora del Pilar, to whom I transfer

the rights, pay, rank, and embroidered petticoat, of her predecessor.
Our War Minister, the Archbishop op Crocodilopolis, will make out the
brevet at once.'

publishing the only authentic
account of that august event,
which is contained in the fol-
lowing letter :—

SIR LANCELOT GREAVES, KNT.,
TO LORD JOHN MANNERS.

" Bourges, May 22.
"My Lord,—I have witnessed
to-day an awful, a noble cere-
mony. The newspapers have
already acquainted you with our
beloved Don Carlos's affecting
manifesto apropos of his resigna-
tion of the Crown of Spain. He

hidalgo of La Mancha, after his
heroic attack on the well-known
fortresses of that name.

" The act of abdication has
just been solemnly performed at
Bourges. The great officers of the
Crown, and some of the faithful allies of the unfortunate monarch, were
present. Not one of his former friends in France would come to attend
the sad ceremony. One and all turned on him the cold shoulder. Perish
the dastards ! But from England, some of the true and chivalrous sup-
porters of the exiled Charles hastened to wait upon him. Among these

were Lord Ranelagh, Peter Borthwick, Esq., M.P.,--Jenkins,

Esq., M.P. (Morning Post). Having ratted from Carlism since the
change of proprietorship, the Morning Herald was not present.

" The party assembled was a select rather than a numerous one. Mis-
fortune generally has such company. The King's Confessor, who is also
Grand Inquisitor, Home Secretary, and charged with the War Depart-
ment, Don Basilto Sombrero, Archbishop of Crocodilopolis (in partibus);

" The Prince and Don Basilto bowed at this, and all the company
cried ' Long live the King !'

" ' I have other appointments to make,' continued the Monarch, ' and
rewards to confer upon those who have been faithful to me in exile.'
(Cheers). ' Noble Cavaliers, your number, alas! is but few; but the
fewer the better, where rewards are to be had.'

" ' As I have no present means of paying the wages of my faithful
secretary and barber, Don Joachim Strappado, 1 give him an order upon
the Intendant of my silver mines of Mexico for twenty-five thousand
donkey-loads of ingots, and make him Duke of Latherero.'

" Poor Don Joachim pulled rather a long face when he heard of the
twenty-five thousand donkeys, and said, 'If 1 go to Mexico, there will
takes the title of Count Molina ; I be twenty-five thousand and one.'
and his son, that of Count Monte j " ' My excellent Mariquita, waiting-woman of my august Queen, and
Molin—Count Mount Windmill chief intendant of my kitchen, whose fidelity to my royal race, but espe-
—one of the titles of the ingenious cially whose skill in cooking my favourite dish of Garbanzos in oil has

touched my august heart, I propose to reward suitably. When my fleets
arrive from the Indies, I shall present her with a diamond stomacher as
big as any omelette she ever fried for me, and a kitchen-service of rubies
and gold. I hereby give her an estate in Peru, whereof the title-deeds
shall be made out in her name, so soon as the revolted province has
returned to its allegiance. Meanwhile, I create her Duchess op Olla-
Podrida.'

" The Duchess declined, however, to take the title, because the Royal
Chancellor wanted filteenpence as a fee for entering it in the Golden Book
of the Grandees of Spain.

" ' Come forth, Don Geronimo Widdicombo, faithful master of my horse I
Since the reverse of my fortunes, I have had indeed only a donkey ; but
thou hast well and truly curried him. I appoint thee Viceroy of my
kingdom of Naples, Knight of my order of the Golden Fleece, and invest
thee with the collar of the same.'

" As there was no collar at hand, Don Geronimo was invested with the
collar of poor Dapple the donkey, which dragged the chaise of the King
and Queen ; and he disappeared, grinning most lugubriously through that

the Finance Minister, Don Lazarillo de Tormes (who likewise waits ' ornament.

at table); and a few more of the great officers of state ; were assembled in
the ' Saloon of Ambassadors ' in the two-pair back. The Throne-room
was gorgeously decorated with the curtains of a French bedstead that
usually stands there, but which was replaced for the occasion by a large
velveteen settee.

" The King then asked the knife and boot-boy, who performs the minor

offices about the palace of the Royal Exiles, whether he would prefer

having his wages paid in full ; or, when the King came to his own again,

would like to become Governor of Austria, Hungary, and Bohemia ?

' Try me !' said the boy, delighted, and holding out his hand, whereupon
i • j- _ j______j *u„_______;„ — t>u:„

" Before the settee was a teapoy, upon which the Royal Insignia were ', he was immediately advanced to the governments in question. ^ This-
deposited, laid on a noble cushion worked in worsted by the Royal Con- seemed a good deal to disappoint the knife-boy.

sort of the King. Chairs, stools, &c, were placed for the rest of the) " It now came to the turn of the King's English adherents. Turning to
august party. As the Crown Jewels were not forthcoming, a handsome ! Lord Ranelagh, the King said, • My lord, in the action off Bilboa you

admirably distinguished yourself against the English navy.' His lordship
was proud to own he did. ' I appoint you, then, Admiral of the Spanish
Armada.'

" Carlos Quinto next called upon
Don Tommaso Jenkins, the advocate

crown and sceptre were borrowed from the theatre at Bourges, by the
kind permission of the director.

" He attended as 'guardian of the crown jewels,' wearing the costume
of the Cid; and I am ashamed to say that a pawnbroker of the town,
with whom the impoverished monarch has had some dealings, said he

would not let the stars, cordons, laced uniforms, &c, entrusted to him, | of legitimacy in all countries. Jen-
out of his sight ; on hearing which, the good-natured Prince of the I kins stepped forward, in his Spanish
Asturias said—' Let him attend as Uncle of the Royal Family.' i costume, and was squeezed in the old

" At one o'clock, punctually, the Royal Donkey Chaise, driven by the) Monarch's arms so heartily, that tears
Master of the Horse, was heard in the court-yard. The King ascended ! came into the loyal servant's eyes,
with the Prince of Asturias on his arm. The Uncle of the Royal Family ' How, Don Tommaso. shall I reward
invested the royal pair with their stars, epaulets, and cordons, and stood
by their sides (never leaving them), as the great doors of the Throne-
room were flung open by Don Lazarillo de Tormes. The ambassadors
were then admitted, to kiss the hand of the august Exile.

" When Beau Brummell was dying in dotage and poverty, his bio-
grapher tells us, the poor old man would often be visited by comfortable
illusions, and, sitting in his ragged dressing-gown, in his garret, fancied
he was entertaining there the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of
Devonshire, and Charley Fox and Samuel Rogers, Esq.,and the young
bloods, bucks, and beauties of that brilliant day.

" A similar beneficent delusion has taken hold of Don Carlos, He
fancies that all the ancient possessions of the Spanish Crown still belong
to it. And on this solemn occasion, and before he retired into private
life, he made a distribution of what poor dear Simpson (almost the last
remnant of chivalry in England) used to call the royal property.

" The court ceremonial being arranged, the Princes seated, the

you and the Press of England ? As
for your noble comrade the Morning

Herald -.'

"' The EraW My Grandmother!'

interposed Don Tommaso, scornfully

" ' I shall make him Chief Herald
of my son's court, and hereby create
him Lord Nightcap, King-at-Arms.
But what shall I do for you, my
cousin, as I have given away all the
dignities of my crown, and all my
foreign governments 1 No, stay ; there
is Brussels. Jenkins, you shall be
the modern Duke of Alva, and my
Governor of the Low Countries.'
" ' The Low Countries ! ' shrieked

ambassadors, officers, &c, standing round, Charles V. rose, and in a ! Jenkins ; 'does your Majesty think
voice trembling with emotion, said :— I'd go to hany place as was low ?'

"' Before resigning my kingdom to my beloved son, I think fit to i and, tearing the cockade out of his
signify to him my royal dispositions. hat, he left the room.

" ' 1st. I had appointed as Generalissimo of my forces, N. Senora del ; " ' Try and console our fiery ally, my good cousin. Don Pedro Borth-
Carmen, to whom I paid much honour, embroidering a petticoat for her wick ! it is now your turn, my friend. Titles I know you heed not—.
by my Queen's royal hands, and giving her her pay regularly as General- prouder to be a member of the British Cortes than a Spanish Gr.mdee ot