Still there was no doubt that his
satire reflected in both ways. His Catechism of a Ministerial member
commenced--
_Question._ What is your name?
_Answer._ Lick-spittle.
_Ques._ Who gave you this name?
_Ans._ My Sureties to the Ministry in my political charge, wherein
I was made a member of the majority, the child of corruption, and a
locust to devour the good things of this kingdom.
The supplications in his Litany were of the following kind--
"O Prince! ruler of thy people, have mercy upon us thy miserable
subjects."
Some of Gillray's caricatures would not now be tolerated, such as that
representing Hoche ascending to Heaven surrounded by Seraphim and
Cherubim--grotesque figures with red nightcaps and tri-coloured cockades
having books before them containing the Marseillaise hymn. In another
Pitt was going to heaven in the form of Elijah, and letting his mantle
drop on the King's Ministers.
It must be admitted that there is often a great difficulty in deciding
whether the intention was to ridicule the original writing or the
subject treated in the Parody. A variety of circumstances may tend to
determine the question on one side or the other, but regard should
especially be had as to whether any imperfection in the original is
pointed out. The fault may be only in form, but in the best travesties
the sense and subject are also ridiculed, and with justice.
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