1-150-214 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'An Act of Grace; Montalbert Pardons the Emperor', 1859. The story behind the cartoon is the trial of the Comte de Montalembert. The Comte had published a pamphlet called Un Debat sur l'Inde au Parlement Anglais in which he compared in unflattering terms French parliamentary procedures for debate with the superior ones of the British parliament. Napoleon was outraged. For this crime, Montalembert was found guilty, fined 3,000 francs and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. In December, he was pardoned by Napoleon, but when Montalembert appealed against his conviction, he was again found guilty. Towards the end of December, he was again pardoned by Napoleon. Here, Montalembert is shown 'forgiving' Napoleon for having saved him from prison. Napoleon kneels in front of Montalembert as though he is to be knighted by a British sovereign and, with a rolled up copy of the offending pamphlet, Montalembert prepares to oblige. From Punch, or the London Charivari, January 8, 1859.