Georgian England is characterised in cartoons of the time by excess.
I am reminded of both aspects of Cruikshank’s cartoon by the events of the past few days.
While the Georgians celebrated in Tbilisi
England were rather less excited – not quite as down as the hung men in the cartoon but down all the same!
The latter picture was taken shortly after England qualified top of the group, the former picture shows how Georgia celebrated coming third in the group. Some might say that England can’t win – I’d say that any win that results in everyone getting upset is a “pyrrhic victory”.
I would rather be the Prince Regent and his wife, dancing – than the miserable sods on the gibbet but – and I think this is a point to the cartoon, we don’t have to have fun at the expense of those outside the tent (or whatever the Regent is dancing in).
Right now , the England football team/camp is clearly celebrating its success while the rest of us reckon they’re doing their best to make us miserable (and bring down a wonderful tournament to the level of their dreariness).
So let’s remember that football is a game (and a beautiful one at that). Let’s stop thinking that two goals in three games represents success and statistics showing England vying with Scotland for having least shots on target is something to be proud about!
The England football team are here to represent us and we are doing our best to support it. But while the fans in the stadiums do their best during the games (and a magnificent best) , they are entitled to deliver their verdict after the game. Their verdict is that England are playing a miserable version of the game and that something had better change if we are to progress in this tournaments – AS WE ARE EXPECTED TO DO.
There is no point in saying this at the end of the tournament – that is what we have been doing for 60 years. Right now we are saying this in the middle of the tournament in the hope that those inside the tent notice that those outside are just “hanging around” feeling pretty down – too!
Today’s blog illustration from 1812 by Cruikshank, not Hogarth, shows George, then Prince Regent, dancing and drinking at a lavish party with the wife of a man who sits with a dejected look on his face and holding a sheet of paper “Order of the day”.
The paper lists “Breakfast – 2 to be HUNG at Newgate” with lunch, dinner and tea schedules followed by “Supper – German fling, of penny sausage with bread, cheese & kisses &c &c, Dancing all night”.
The husband sits with his feet resting on sheet music titled “The black joke”, while behind him stand two demon-like figures playing French horns, alluding to his present cuckold condition.
The future George IV is at his revels, drunken and dancing, while stamping underfoot a rejected petition to aid poor children.
Through an opening in the palace is a view of two on the breakfast gallows and poor persons seeking relief. One is saying: “If Rich rogues like poor ones were for to Hang, it would thin the land. Such numbers would Swing upon Tyburn Tree.”
I think I’d rather we were less Georgian.
What changed? Partygate/Georgian, have/have not divide