Rogers & victory Written by Mons. Tonson, late hair-dresser to his imperial and royal majesty the Emperor of the French

“Rogers and Victory” is another pro-American text set to “Yankee Doodle,” this time a satire on the Rodgers/Bingham fight, written as though by the “late hair-dresser” to Napoleon (see Rogers and Bingham). The language and dialect are typical of the period’s expression of French-speaking people speaking English. As early as the Raree Show songs of the 1710s and 1720s, this type of dialect was used, often for any foreigner speaking English. It would not be until well into the nineteenth century that this type of dialect would be applied chiefly to African American speech. The chorus reference to “carmagnole” is to the rowdy street song and dance of the French revolutionists that helped to incite the people against King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

When the text appeared in the Boston Satirist on January 16, 1812, it was preceded by a note from the contributor, suggesting that the song referred to goings-on in Washington.

Mons. Prentair,
My ver good friend, Nicholas Pedrosa, who live in de southern part of de Nitestate, have sent me per de mail de inclose song bout de Leetle Belt, which he say was compose by one Jean Tonson, hair-dresser to de Secretaire at Washeenton City. Please show it to de publique in your papier.
Je vous salue.
Pierre

This is another short song and Coverly filled up the sheet by adding three woodcuts. The large center one had also been used for another sea battle with a French ship, the engagement between Boston and Le Berceau in 1800 (see The Boston Frigate’s Engagement).