Bonaparte's bridge to the tune of This is the house that Jack built / [graphic]

"Eight designs in two rows, each with lines parodying 'the House that Jack built' etched above each. Some section of the bridge appears in Nos. 1-5. [1] Tiny French soldiers gallop across the bridge; a man punts in the rapidly flowing river. Behind is Leipzig, a walled town backed by hills. Above: "This is the Bridge that was blown into air." [2] Three men, wearing helmets and aprons, excavate a pit beside the bridge, from which a man looks down: "These are the Miners that had the care / Of mining the Bridge . . . [&c.]." [3] A Grenadier corporal holds a long match towards the covered pit; three tiny Grenadiers run across the bridge: "This is the Corporal, stout and strong, / Who fired the Mine with his match so long, / Which was made by the Miners . . . [&c.]." [4] A swaggering officer points at the ground, looking over his shoulder at the corporal, who runs forward with his match, saluting obsequiously: "This is the Colonel of Infantry, Who ordered the Corporal . . . [&c.]." [5] The colonel listens deferentially to an officer who whispers in his ear, pointing downwards: "This is the Marshal of high degree / Who whispered the Colonel.. .[&c.]." [6] Napoleon gallops from the battlefield, indicated by a drum in the foreground and bodies in the background: "This is the Emperor who scampered away, / And left the Marshal . . . [&c.]." [7] Refugees, including women with infants and an old farmer, make gestures of despair. Behind is the blazing town which more fugitives are leaving: "These are the Thousands who cursed the day, / Which made him Emperor ... [&c.]." [8] Four allied sovereigns in a tent consult over a map held between them. Alexander (left) sits on a camp-stool, the others stoop over the map: the King of Prussia is in back view, facing the Emperor of Austria. Bernadotte faces the Tsar: "These are the Monarchs so gen'rous and brave, / Who conquered the Tyrant, and Liberty gave, / To Thousands on Thousands . . . [&c.]"."--British Museum online catalogue