DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2152#0176
THE INVASION. 149
it would be doing his country a service to prove
the position. How far it is either useful or politi-
cal to depreciate the power, or degrade the charac-
ter of that people with whom we are to contend, is
a question which does not come within the plan of
this work. In some cases it may create confi-
dence; hut in others, leads to the indulgence of
that negligent security, by which armies have been
slaughtered, provinces depopulated, and kingdoms
changed their rulers.
These two glaring contrasts were designed at a
time when there was a rumour of an invasion from
France. The sober politician treated this idle
report with contempt; but by the credulous it
was believed, and by the timid it was dreaded.
To dispel this phantom of the day, was one mo-
tive for Hogarth's publication of these prints.
They arc not addressed to the philosopher, or the
legislator; but to the soldier, and the sailor. They
are not designed for the contemplation of the in-
formed and travelled man, who considers himself
as a citizen of the world, but for the true born,
and true bred Briton, that believes this to be the
only country where man can enjoy happiness, and
thinks an Englishman is the boast of the universe!
the glory of creation! and the paragon of nature!
" beauties of painting. His last most striking trait is,
" that he is astonished at entry thing, and cannot bua-
" gine how it is possible men should be any other than
" Ihey are at Petit."
it would be doing his country a service to prove
the position. How far it is either useful or politi-
cal to depreciate the power, or degrade the charac-
ter of that people with whom we are to contend, is
a question which does not come within the plan of
this work. In some cases it may create confi-
dence; hut in others, leads to the indulgence of
that negligent security, by which armies have been
slaughtered, provinces depopulated, and kingdoms
changed their rulers.
These two glaring contrasts were designed at a
time when there was a rumour of an invasion from
France. The sober politician treated this idle
report with contempt; but by the credulous it
was believed, and by the timid it was dreaded.
To dispel this phantom of the day, was one mo-
tive for Hogarth's publication of these prints.
They arc not addressed to the philosopher, or the
legislator; but to the soldier, and the sailor. They
are not designed for the contemplation of the in-
formed and travelled man, who considers himself
as a citizen of the world, but for the true born,
and true bred Briton, that believes this to be the
only country where man can enjoy happiness, and
thinks an Englishman is the boast of the universe!
the glory of creation! and the paragon of nature!
" beauties of painting. His last most striking trait is,
" that he is astonished at entry thing, and cannot bua-
" gine how it is possible men should be any other than
" Ihey are at Petit."