Vagaries of nature and art, or, Curiosities of the parade [graphic]

"A scene on Horse Guards Parade, in front of the Regent's Bomb, see British Museum Satires No. 12799, &c., burlesquing costume, military and civilian. Three officers stand together (left); an infantry officer wearing tight trousers and an enormous shako, says: "What ridiculous uniforms they wear on the Continent! d'ont you think so Major?" A cavalry officer answers: "We beat them all to nothing in Uniforms! our R . . . . t has such exquisite taste!" He is in back view, one peak of his cocked hat reaches below his waist, the other is high above his head. The third, a hussar, too stout for tight uniform, wearing a gigantic busby with pendent bag and heavy metal chin-strap, answers: "Monstrous! enough to make one die with laughter." A civilian, his cheeks gripped by his high collar, looks over his shoulder at them, saying, "Ha Ha what a set of quizzes!!" His fat wife is in back view, and her skirt is raised high, displaying legs, by the sabre of a Life Guards officer who bows low to a fat bedizened woman who takes her husband's arm. An enormous horse-tail hangs from his helmet which is surmounted by a dragon (resembling that of the 'Bomb'). She has monstrous lips, and wears a huge bonnet trimmed with roses, &c. He says: "Ah! my dear Mrs Bloom! You look like the Godess [sic] Flora this morning, your Roses and Lillies are beautiful but your Two Lips [cf. British Museum Satires No. 13057] still more so! I prefer your Twolips indeed Madam." She answers: "Eh! Eh! Eh! Vy ive got no twolips Captain! law what a deal of hair you have got on your thingumbob, if I had met you behind, I should have taken you for Orson the wild Man of Voods." Her fat husband, who is dressed as a dandy (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13029) except that his figure makes the high-waisted effect impossible, answers: "Come thats a good one Captain but Margery don't take it." He holds by the hand a gaping over-dressed child wearing frilled drawers to the ankle."--British Museum online catalogue