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Lot Essay
The peculiar events portrayed here were described in Walter Thornbury's landmark book on London thus : 'M. Otto, the French ambassador at the Court of St. James's, was living in Portman Square at the time of the short-lived treaty of Amiens. Peace had long been wished for by the people, and the preliminaries were signed at Lord Hawkesbury's office in Downing Street, on the 1st October 1801. On the arrival in London of General Lauriston, first aide-de-camp to Napoleon, with the French ratifications, he was greeted with enthusiastic cheers by a vast concourse of people. Some of the men took the horses from his carriage, and drew him to M. Otto's house with tumultuous expressions of joy.
A very curious print is in existence showing the illumination of M. Otto's house in celebration of this event. On the front was a row of large oil lamps forming the word 'Concord' and on either side were the initials 'G.R.' for George III, and 'R.F.' for Republique Francaise - the first time, no doubt, and probably the last, on which these two names stood united. This illumination was somewhat unfortunate, for a London mob, unwittingly, interpreted 'Concord' into 'Conquered'.
All the ambassador's windows were smashed in consequence. When the word 'Concord' was removed, its place was supplied by 'Amitie'; but the stupid mob read this as 'Enmity', and insisted on its removal also. Mr. Planche, who was present, writes: "The storm again raged with redoubled fury. Ultimately, what ought to have been done at first was done: the word 'Peace' was displayed, and so peace was restored to Portman Square for the evening."'
(See E. Walford, Old and New London, Cassell Petter & Galpin, London, 1872-78, p. 413)
A very curious print is in existence showing the illumination of M. Otto's house in celebration of this event. On the front was a row of large oil lamps forming the word 'Concord' and on either side were the initials 'G.R.' for George III, and 'R.F.' for Republique Francaise - the first time, no doubt, and probably the last, on which these two names stood united. This illumination was somewhat unfortunate, for a London mob, unwittingly, interpreted 'Concord' into 'Conquered'.
All the ambassador's windows were smashed in consequence. When the word 'Concord' was removed, its place was supplied by 'Amitie'; but the stupid mob read this as 'Enmity', and insisted on its removal also. Mr. Planche, who was present, writes: "The storm again raged with redoubled fury. Ultimately, what ought to have been done at first was done: the word 'Peace' was displayed, and so peace was restored to Portman Square for the evening."'
(See E. Walford, Old and New London, Cassell Petter & Galpin, London, 1872-78, p. 413)