"The beam of a pair of scales is suspended from a vertical bar terminating in a ring which encircles one of many solid rays from a large sun (l.) surmounted by the Prince of Wales' coronet and feathers. The 'Rising-Sun' (see BMSat 10258) is partly obscured by dark clouds, but its rays extend across the design and illuminate especially Sidmouth and Ellenborough. The former is poised triumphantly on the cross-beam, depressing the r. scale with his foot, while he holds on his shoulders Ellenborough in judge's wig and gown, who manipulates the scale in the same direction. This lower scale contains the 'Broad-Bottomites' ie the Grenvillites, or New Opposition, the other, the 'No-Bottomites', i.e. the Foxites, or Old Opposition. In the latter (l.) the occupants hold the ropes with expressions of anxiety; the inscription suggests that they lack 'bottom' or endurance (a pugilistic phrase). Fox is the most prominent, between Erskine (l.), in Chancellor's wig and gown and with the Purse of the Great Seal, and Grey (r.). Moira, in cocked hat and regimentals, stands stiffly behind. Fox and Grey have bonnets rouges but do not wear them. The other bowl contains Grenville, one hand on his fat nephew Lord Temple; the heavy posteriors for which the family were noted take up much of the bowl. Windham waves his hat triumphantly. Of two other partly obscured occupants one resembles Lord Henry Petty. The scales are suspended above the curve of the globe on which Great Britain and the Continent are indicated. Behind the North Pole (r.) is a setting sun containing a royal crown; its feeble rays are outshone by the heavy beams of the rising sun (or son). Above it, among clouds, flies the ghost of Pitt, weeping."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Title etched below image., and Two lines of text following title: NB. The representation of the astonishing strength & influence of the rays from the rising-sun is taken from Sir Isaac Newtons theory of light.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 16th, 1806, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street,
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos,--Duke of,--1776-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Ellenborough, Edward Law,--Baron,--1750-1818--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings,--Marquess of,--1754-1826--Caricatures and cartoons., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice,--Marquess of,--1780-1863--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sidmouth, Henry Addington,--Viscount,--1757-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., and Windham, William,--1750-1810--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A caricature of the famous scene in the House of Commons on 28 Dec. 1792. Burke (right) stands in profile to the left, his hands extended, having just thrown down the dagger, which lies at his feet; he looks with a contemptuous frown at Pitt and Dundas, who are seated on the Treasury Bench (left). On the extreme left the Speaker is represented by his hat, wig, and gown; his headlessness perhaps indicates Gillray's opinion of Addington. On the opposite side of the table Fox clutches his hat, looking at Burke out of the corners of his eyes with an alarmed expression; Sheridan, equally alarmed, clutches Fox's shoulder; behind them sits M. A. Taylor, clasping his hands. Burke, whose corpulence and a bag-wig suggest that he is now drawing funds from the Treasury, says: "There! that is what you are to gain by an alliance with France! - such are the Instruments with which they have determin'd the destruction of the Human race! - Three Thousand such Daggers are now manufacturing for this Country! - for where French principles are introduced, you must prepare your hearts for French Daggers! - Nineteen Assassins are already here, who aided & abbetted by wretches who do not believe in a God, are preparing to scour the filth from your Streets with the Blood of all who are Virtuous & Honorable!!" Pitt, seated in profile to the right, very thin, with his hair rising on his head in terror, says, "The blood of the Virtuous & Honorable ? then Lord have mercy upon Me!" Dundas, wearing a tartan plaid, adds, equally terrified, "And upon Me!" Fox says "Confusion! - one of Our daggers, by all thats bloody! how the devil did he come by that ? - ha! what's that ? Nineteen Assassins ? - O damnation! - we're found out & all our schemes ruin'd for ever!!!" Sheridan says: "O Charley, Charley! - farewell to all our hopes of Levelling Monarchs! - farewell to all our hopes of paying off my debts by a general Bankruptcy! - farewell to all hopes of plunder! - in a moment of Victory we're trap'd & undone!!!"."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Plot discover'd and Plot discovered
Description:
Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Sidmouth, Henry Addington,--Viscount,--1757-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., and Taylor, Michael Angelo,--1757-1834--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A close parody of West's picture, 'The Death of Wolfe' (1771). The three officers supporting the mortally wounded Pitt are (left to right) Burke, Pepper Arden (Master of the Rolls), and Dundas. From Burke's pocket projects a paper 'Reflections upon £3700 Pr Ann.' (The policy indicated by his famous book, see BMSat 7675, &c, had been rewarded by two pensions, see BMSat 8654.) Dundas, wearing a kilt, offers Pitt a glass of wine (in place of stanching his wound); a bottle of 'Port' projects from his coat-pocket. The officer behind holding the British flag is identified by Lord Holland as Chatham and the man who supports him as Powys, noted for his propensity to tears (see BMSat 6642). The White Horse of Hanover (cf. BMSat 8691, &c.) on the flag is more conspicuous than in West's picture, and a scroll inscribed 'Magna Chart[a]' has been added. In the group facing Pitt the place of the Mohawk Indian seated on the ground is taken by Loughborough, half-naked, the purse of the Great Seal replacing the Indian's beaded bag, the mace that of his musket, a bloodstained headsman's axe that of his tomahawk. In place of the beaded headdress is the Chancellor's wig surmounted by a monster with the head of a cock, whose limbs are snakes. The two men who lean forward to Wolfe, pointing back to the messenger with the news of victory, are dressed as running-footmen in livery and hold the long sticks with the head enclosing an egg carried by these men. Ink-pots are slung across their shoulders by bands inscribed 'Ist Treasury Runner' and '2d Tre . . .', showing that they are the two Secretaries to the Treasury, George Rose and Charles Long. Grenville, in peer's robes, stands between Lord Mansfield and Windham, who supports him. In place of West's handsome young officer who runs up with the French flag is a man with the face of a demon holding a tattered tricolour flag inscribed 'Libertas', its shaft broken. A large bonnet-rouge lies on the ground. The couple who stand on the extreme right watching Pitt with clasped hands are Richmond and a man with a wooden leg. Richmond, in general's uniform, his bald head contrasting with the luxuriant hair of West's corresponding figure, has a cannon slung to his back to indicate his Mastership of the Ordnance (cf. BMSat 6921, &c.) in which, however, he had been succeeded by Cornwallis (Feb. 1795), see BMSat 8341. His weeping companion has been identified as Wilberforce, though his wooden leg might indicate Brook Watson, Commissary-General (see vol. vi). The background differs from West's picture. In place of the confused fighting and the smoke which surrounds the Heights of Abraham, the Ministerial cavalry advance in even line, rank upon rank, and put to flight a small body of sansculottes with bonnets-rouges (left). They have a standard on which is a crown. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Text at botton of plate: To Benjn. West Esqr., President of the Royal Academy, this attempt to emulate the beauties of his unequal'd picture ..., Text below title: "We have overcome all opposition!, exclaimed the messengers. "I'm satisfied," said the dying hero, & expired in the moment of victory., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Alvanley, Richard Pepper Arden,--Baron,--1745-1804--Caricatures and cartoons., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burke, Edmund,--1729-1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Chatham, John Pitt,--Earl of,--1756-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Lilford, Thomas Powys,--Baron,--1743-1800--Caricatures and cartoons., Long, Charles,--1761-1838--Caricatures and cartoons., Mansfield, David Murray,--Earl of,--1727-1796--Caricatures and cartoons., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Richmond, Charles Lennox,--3d Duke of,--1735-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Rose, George,--1744-1818--Caricatures and cartoons., Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn,--Earl of,--1733-1805--Caricatures and cartoons., Watson, Brook,--1735 -1807--Caricatures and cartoons., West, Benjamin,--1738-1820., Wilberforce, William,--1759-1833--Caricatures and cartoons., Windham, William,--1750-1810--Caricatures and cartoons., and Wolfe, James,--1727-1759.
"Pitt as an alchemist, but dressed as usual, sits in his laboratory blowing a furnace with bellows formed of a royal crown. The furnace heats a large glass retort in which the House of Commons is being dissolved: the galleries are collapsing, the Speaker's chair is breaking, he and the clerks are asleep, the broken mace drops from the table, the books fly into the air and ascend with documents, &c, into the curving neck of the retort: 'Coke', 'Acts', 'Statutes', 'Rights of Parliament', 'Magna Charta', 'Bill of Rights', a cap of 'Libertas', the scales of Justice are flying upwards. The Ministerial members applaud; the Opposition are dismayed. Sheridan and Fox, though tiny, are conspicuous on the front bench. A stream of vapour issues from the mouth of the retort containing tiny grovelling figures of abject members who fill both sides of another House of Commons above and behind the alchemist's head, and prostrate themselves before a miniature Pitt, who sits on a throne which replaces the Speaker's chair, and is inscribed 'Perpetual Dictator'. He sits arrogantly, holding a sceptre; his legs are those of a bird of prey (cf. BMSat 7478), one foot is planted on 'Mag[na] C[harta]' and 'Acts of Parl[iament]'. His throne is surmounted by his crest, a stork holding an anchor, with the addition of a crown on the bird's head. A smaller retort on the extreme left, inscribed 'Aqua Regia', adds its vapour to that produced by Pitt. (Aqua Regia, used punningly, with a double meaning, is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids which converts metals, even gold, into chlorides.) Pitt (the Alchemist) and the figures he is evoking, as well as the ministerialists in the dissolving House, wear the blue coat with red facings of the Windsor uniform. He sits in profile to the right on the model of a high rectangular building, 'a bastille', having a row of windows on the top story only; it is a 'Model of the new Barracks'. From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Receipe - Antidotus Republica'. On the right of the circular furnace is a coal-scuttle, inscribed 'Treasury Cole' (cf. BMSat 6213), and overflowing with guineas. On the other side is a pestle and mortar in which is Britannia's shield, about to be broken up. From the roof hang emblems of nefarious wizardry: a crocodile, a headsman's axe, a scorpion, a bull's head, a locust (cf. BMSat 8669), an asp issuing from an egg, a bat. On the wall are three rows of large jars, some with inscriptions: 'Ointment of Caterpillars' (beside Pitt's head, cf. BMSat 8676), '[Univer]sal Panacea', 'Oil of Influence', 'Extract of British Blood', 'Spirit of Sal: Machiavel.'"--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Alchymist producing an aetherial representation
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Two dogs with human faces hang from a gibbet inscribed 'not Paid for'; two others stand beneath, looking up at them with complacent triumph, these are 'To be Paid for'. The gibbet is formed of two uprights with a cross-bar. The pendent dogs who face each other in profile with expressions of despair are Sheridan (left) and Fox (right); their necks are linked by a chain. Fox has a fox's brush (as in BMSat 8796). He urinates upon Dundas who is immediately beneath him, facing Pitt. Dundas is a fat mongrel, Pitt a lean greyhound (as in BMSat 8797)."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Ten lines of verse in two columns below title: New grievances so thickly come, and taxes fall so hard sir ..., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Pitt (left) fires his pistol into the air; Tierney (right) fires straight at Pitt, saying, "Missed him! by G . . " Each has a second pistol in his left hand. Pitt, in profile, says: "The only Explanation I give is this! There! - that's to shew you, that I bear no Personal Enmity! - but that no consideration of my own Safety, shall deter me from doing my duty to King & Country!!! - so Fire away!" His second, Dudley Ryder, stands behind (left) holding a sheathed sword; he adds: "no nor unsay any thing which we know to be true, neither." Tierney faces three-quarter to the left; in his belt, inscribed 'Egalité', are two daggers dripping blood; a tricolour cockade decorates his round hat. Behind him (right) and on a smaller scale than the other second is George Walpole, both fists clenched, a pair of large pistols under his left arm; he says: "Missed him? - O Lord! Its worse than ye Morroon business! O Lord! O Lord! - if he had but been popp'd off, how nicely we might have popp'd on, - O Lord! O lord." He wears a very large cocked hat and, unlike the others, is caricatured. (He is described as leaping over the furze-bushes for joy at seeing the duellists still erect. Rose, op. cit.) Behind Tierney is an empty gibbet inscribed 'Abershaw', placarded 'This Old Iron Shop to left'. On it sits a crow with the head of Burdett in profile to the left. The scene is a plateau of grass and sand, with St. Paul's and London spires in the distance. In the middle distance is a coach; a man holds the door open, watching the duel, as does a postilion on the (nearer) off horse. See BMSat 9218, &c."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Harrowby, Dudley Ryder,--Earl of,--1762-1847--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., and Walpole, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Thurlow, seated on the Woolsack, and George III who stands on the extreme left, tug at the bag of the Great Seal, while Pitt and Grenville (right) attempt to dislodge the Chancellor. The King, in profile to the right, tugs with both hands, saying, "What! What! What! - pull against me Neddy? pull against me? - no! no! no! - 'twont do! Neddy! 'twont do! leave go! leave go! Neddy - dont put me in a passion Neddy - but leave go Neddy - " Thurlow, holding one tassel, says: "Take it ingrate! - and then farewell, - O damnation I've touched the highest point of all my greatness - damnation And from that full meridian of my glory - damnation I haste now to my setting - I shall fall - damnation Like a bright exhalation in the evening - damnation And no man see me more - Damnation! O damnation" Pitt, kneeling on one knee, tugs with both hands at the back of the woolsack, saying, "Yeo! Yeo! - this one pull more Billy-Ranger, and we shall secure every thing into our own Family, and then leave me alone to take a pull at Old Nobbs [the King], & John Bull." Grenville, also on one knee, pulls with both hands at the Chancellor's wig; he says, "Bravo! Cousin Billy! - pull away! - now again! - I have a mighty fancy for this Wig! I think it would add dignity to my Ranger, & Secretaryship!"."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow,--Baron,--1731-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1789-1820--Humor.
"Pitt arrogantly bestrides the Speaker's chair, towering high above the galleries of the House. He plays cup (or rather spike) and ball with the globe, on which 'France' is disproportionately large, the British Isles small and obscure. His head is turned to the left towards his own followers, who crowd obsequiously towards his huge right foot which rests on the head of Wilberforce (papers inscribed 'Slave Trade' issuing from his pocket) and on the shoulder of the bulky and truculent Dundas, who wears Highland dress. Canning (the 'Trial of Betty Canning' projecting from his pocket) kneels to kiss the toe of his shoe. His left foot crushes the leaders of the Opposition: Erskine, Sheridan, Fox (all prostrate), and a fourth (? Grey) with upstretched arms. M. A. Taylor, a tiny figure, with the legs of a chicken (see BMSat 6777) and wearing a bonnet-rouge, sprawls on the floor near Fox. The rest of the party raise their arms in dismay. The Speaker (Addington) looks up (raising his hat), as do the Clerks. Pitt's coat-pockets bulge like sacks; in one (left) are papers: 'Volunteers, 200000 Seamen, 150000 Regulars, Militia'; the other is stuffed with guineas, on this his left hand rests, holding a paper 'Resources for supporting the War'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., and Wilberforce, William,--1759-1833--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Pitt stands beside John Bull in a basket, inscribed 'Sinking Fund', which is attached to an elaborate pagoda-like parachute. On the apex of the parachute is a solid ball or weight inscribed. 'Million pr Annum at Interest & Compd I[nterest]'. From this floats upwards into the clouds a tattered ribbon inscribed 'National Debt', by which the parachute was attached to the base of the balloon. The umbrella of the parachute is covered with the words 'Compd Interest \ Interest', many times repeated. The ropes which attach it to the basket are encircled by a 'Hoop of National Security'. John Bull looks down grinning and cheering, waving his hat. Pitt's right hand is on his shoulder, his left points out the earth beneath: the tiny British isles in a curving ocean near the edge of the globe. Over Great Britain, inscribed 'Land of Emancipation', flies a large Union flag. Unless the parachute drifts to the right, it will fall into the sea."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
John Bull conducted to plenty & emancipation
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons.