Ghost as seen in the Hamlet of St. Stephens Chapel [graphic].

Description

Title: Ghost as seen in the Hamlet of St. Stephens Chapel [graphic].
Contributor: Fores, R. A., active 1820-1822, publisher.
Published / Created: [August 1820]
Publication Place: London
Publisher: Pubd. by R.A. Fores, No. 71 Leadenhall St., Aldgate
Abstract: "Scene in the House of Lords at the Queen's 'trial', showing the throne against the end wall, with the two (temporary) galleries. The Queen exclaims in terror, both arms raised, at the sight of the first witness against her, Majocchi, and of the ghost of Princess Charlotte, who stands, draped in white, beside him, holding her infant, with an arm extended towards the Queen. The latter shrieks: "Theodore!! my Daughter too! ah! what have I done!!! Oh speak." The ghost, garbling Hamlet's words (III. iv, ll. 40-5; 92-4): "Such an Act good Mother, as blurs the / "Grace and Blush of Modesty, calls Virtue Hippocrite / "makes marriage vows as false as Dicers Oaths--Oh / "such a deed! to live in the rank sweat of an / ensemen'd bed stived [sic] in Corruption." Majocchi says: "Non mi Ricardo" [sic]. Beside the Queen, and on the extreme right, are Brougham and Denman, her counsel; they hold documents inscribed 'Defence of the Queen' and 'Queens Defence'. Both register astonished horror: Brougham exclaims (misquoting 'Hamlet', I. ii): "All is not well--I doubt / "some foul play!--for foul / "deeds, will rise--." Denman: "'Tis very strange!" ['Hamlet', I. ii]. The prosecuting counsel (left) are equally disturbed: Gifford, grasping the 'Bill of Pains [and P]enalties', exclaims, misquoting Horatio ['Hamlet', I. i]: "Behold it starteth like / "a guilty thing upon a shamefull "Summons." Copley: "Angels and Ministers / "of Grace defend us" ['Hamlet', I. iv]. A seated judge turns to them, pointing to the Queen, saying: "Look to the Queen!!" ['Hamlet', v. ii]. There is a background of peers, freely indicated, all startled, while spectators watch from the galleries. In the centre foreground a large green bag (see British Museum Satires No. 13735) stands on the floor, from which clouds of smoke emerge; it has a strap (unbuckled) in the form of a huge Garter, inscribed 'Ho[ni]... Pense'. On the bag is a garbled version of Macbeth's words (I. ii): "Will all great Neptune's Ocean wash this Blood clean from this Bag? No! rather shall this Bag the multitudinous Realm incarnadine making the Green one Red.""--British Museum online catalogue
Description: Title etched below image.
Date of publication from the British Museum catalogue.
Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
1 print : etching ; sheet 24.6 x 34.9 cm.
Printed on wove paper.
Sheet trimmed within plate mark on three sides.
Mounted to 58 x 39 cm.
Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 70 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair."
Figures of "Pss. Charlotte," "Theodore Majocchi," and "Caroline" identified in black ink above title; note "21 - Aug. 1820" added in ink in lower right corner, beneath the pencil annotation "Aug. 1820." Typed extract of fifteen lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted opposite (on verso of preceding leaf).
Provenance: Sold by London's Dulau and Company to the New York City bookseller Ernest R. Gee in 1928. Earlier ownership by W.E. Gladstone is suggested by a manuscript note from Dulau formerly laid into the front the first volume (now in the object file), which states that "These came from the Gladstone Library at Court Hey, Broad Green. The manuscript notes written below the caricatures are in the handwriting of W.E. Gladstone." William Reese Company; February 2024.
Extent: 1 print : sheet 23.6 x 34 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Language: English