The Tenth Can’t Shoot

The duel between Cornet William Battiery and the Marquis of Londonderry was depicted in at least two cartoons. Fairburn published this one on 12 May 1824 but there is nothing to indicate the name of the artist. Beneath the cartoon is the title: The TENTH can’t Shoot!! or, A Battle of Battles in Battersea Fields May 1824. Below this in small writing: ‘This marvellous Battle took place at Twelve at Noon - Time appointed Nine at Night whic according to Fashionable Etiquette meant nine the following Morning. NB When you meet again dont forget the Pop-Guns’. Cornet Battiery is on the left behind a wall that tells us he was on half-pay. Londonderry is on the right with his second, Sir Henry Hardinge, who exclaims, “A Miss by all that’s horrible”. Battier’s second says, “A Flash in the pan by all that’s damnable!” John Bull stands in the middle making a puzzling reference to ‘the Simples’. The house in the background with a sign saying, Probe Surgeon cutts for the Simples. There is a small figure coming out shouting, “Ah! they want me I see!” (see enlarged detail). This image is courtesy of the Brown University.

Regimental Details | 10th Hussars Cartoons 1824