"Pitt, fast asleep, wearing only nightcap and night-shirt, walks down a staircase holding up a lighted candle in his right hand. On his right only are banisters, on his left the steps abut on a gulf indicated by the top of an arch supporting the stair; he is about to descend the first step, perilously near the left edge. Behind him, in a wall of heavy masonry, is an open door surmounted by a crown. A tall gothic window pierces the wall of the building."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Sleepwalker
Description:
Possibly etched from a drawing by Sneyd. See British Museum catalogue., 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., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Sneyd, William, artist.
The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 2 of 2) | Folder I-51
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
William Pitt, acting as an auctioneer in the dissoluted Parliament, sells from the rostrum decorated with Royal Arms "useless valuables," such as "Magna Charta." Cornwall, the Speaker sitting below the rostrum, records bids in the "Sundry acts." In front of him stands Thurlow in Chancellor's robes making dismissive comment on "nonsensical bidings of those common fellows," i.e. members of the House of Commons who leave through the door on the left. Last of them, Fox, turns back vowing to bid "with spirit" for lot 1, "rights of the people in 558 vol." held on display by Henry Dundas. A reference to the dissolution of the Parliament by the King on March 25.
Description:
CtY-LW, Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
W. Humphry, no. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain--Politics and government--1760-1789.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cornwall, Charles Wolfran,--1735-1789--Caricatures and cartoons., Dundas, Henry,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, William, approximately 1740-approximately 1810, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Riviere & Son Binding., and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow,--Baron,--1731-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
Auctions., Clothing & dress--England--1780-1790., Great Britain.--Parliament, 1783-1784., and Political elections--England--Westminster--1784.
"A lumbering wagon drawn (l. to r.) by eight asses is stuck fast, up to the axles in water; the asses strain hard to drag it up a steep slope to dry land. Its dilapidated tilt is much patched and is labelled 'British State Waggon 1804'. The wagoner, Addington (r.), kneels on an adjacent bank, and shouts to a fat and jovial John Bull, dressed as a volunteer, who stands on the opposite bank of the deeply sunken lane, his bulldog beside him. Addington wears a smock, but his powdered hair is in a black bag. He holds his long whip and his hat in his right. hand, and extends his left. arm, shouting, " - help, Johnny Bull! - help! - my Waggon's stuck fast in the Slough! - help! help." John, who holds his bayoneted musket, looks down at Addington, pointing behind him with outflung r. arm at thirteen horses with human heads above and behind him on rising ground. He answers: " - stuck fast in the Slough! - ay to be sure! - why dost'nt put better Cattle to thy Wain? - look at them there Horses doing o' nothing at all! - what ether they matches in Colour, if they do but drag the Waggon out o' the Mud! - don't ye see how the very thoughts o' being put into Harness makes 'em all love and nubble one another?" The horses, [The identifications (most being self-evident) are those of Miss Banks, the alternatives in brackets being those of E. Hawkins. Wright and Evans arrange them differently and omit Spencer and Lansdowne.] though close together, are in groups. On the extreme left., and rather behind the others, Lord Spencer (or Carlisle) rubs noses with Carlisle (or Lauderdale), Erskine (in wig and bands) with Wilberforce. In front of this group the bulky Lansdowne (or Norfolk) lies on the ground, asleep, his back to the others. Next, Grey turns his head towards the haughty Buckingham, who wears spectacles and a Garter ribbon. Their backs are turned to the main group of four: Fox, with a foreleg placed on Grenville's shoulder looks up affectionately at the latter, who responds with a complacent smile. Pitt watches the pair with haughty benignity; Canning, behind, watches them intently. On the extreme right. Sheridan (a plump piebald), scowling fiercely, kicks up his heels at Windham, who retorts with a blast of excrement, his head turned towards Fox and Grenville. In the foreground (l.) is the stage-wagon (the slowest form of transit), drawn by its eight undifferentiated asses. The tilt is open at the back, showing it crammed with bundles, &c. The centre-piece is a bulging sack: 'Budget for 1804', from which project papers inscribed 'Taxes'. A treasure-chest is inscribed 'Treasury'; coins pour from a hole in its side. It is flanked by two bundles: 'Secret Service Money' and 'Family Pickings'. A bundle of 'Pensions' consists of bulky papers inscribed 'Sinecure'. Large volumes tied together are 'New Acts of Parliament'. Other papers are 'Defence against Invasion'; 'State of Ireland'; 'East Indies'. A bundle of 'Loans for / 84' [sic] contains 'Navy Bills' and 'Exchequer Bills'. There are also three tiny barrels of 'Gun Powder' and a bundle of muskets inscribed 'Volunteers'. From the side of the wagon hangs a basket of 'Family Medicine' containing two bottles labelled 'Broth[er] Bra[gge]' and 'Brother Hiley'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
State wagoner and John Bull, Waggon too much for the donkeys!, and Wagon too much for the donkeys!
Description:
Imprint from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched in upper left corner of image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville,--Marquess of,--1753-1813--Caricatures and cartoons., Canning, George,--1770-1827--Caricatures and cartoons., Carlisle, Frederick Howard,--Earl of,--1748-1825--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Lansdowne, William Petty,--Marquis of,--1737-1805--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., Spencer, George John Spencer,--Earl,--1758-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Wilberforce, William,--1759-1833--Caricatures and cartoons., and Windham, William,--1750-1810--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The windlass (right) is turned by Bedford, in profile to the left, Fox, in back view but looking to the raft (left), Sheridan, in profile to the right, and Tierney, coming towards the spectator. From Bedford's pocket hangs a paper: '£1400 Fined, for False Entry of Servants'. All are running, but it is clear that huge waves raised by Pitt will swamp the raft before it reaches shore. All wear coats except Fox, whose coat lies on the ground beside a paper: 'List of the New Republican Ministry. Citizen Volpone, Premier..'.. Fox's shirt is tattered, his hair is tied by a tricolour ribbon. Pitt's profile emerges from clouds in the upper (right) corner; his blast spreads as it reaches the raft, developing into flashes of lightning ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Republican flotilla in danger
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, Francis Russell,--Duke of,--1765-1802--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., and Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A design in two compartments. [1] 'Billy, in the Devil's claws'. Fox as the Devil (left) grasps the thin and terrified Pitt round the waist, pointing with his left arm to a serried rank of French soldiers, landed from the boats of French men-of-war and marching up the steep coast. He is a grotesque hairy creature, short and heavy, with webbed wings attached to his ragged coat, a barbed tail and talons, and wearing a bonnet-rouge. He says, turning a glaring eye-ball on Pitt: "Ha! Traitor! - there's the French landed in Wales! what d'ye think of that, Traitor?" [2] 'Billy, sending the Devil packing'. Pitt kneels on one knee in profile to the right, holding up a paper: 'Gazette Defeat of the Spanish Fleet; by Sir John Jarvis.' He looks up at Fox with a contemptuous gesture and a subtly triumphant smile, saying: "Ha! Mr Devil! - we've Beat the Spanish Fleet what d'ye think of that Mr Devil?" Fox springs upwards with a terrified expression, his hands held up as if asking for mercy, his cap falls off and his tail is between his legs. On the right is the sea, with a naval battle in progress."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Billy in the Devil's claws, Billy sending the Devil packing, and Table's turned
Description:
Title etched below image and enclosed within curly brackets.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
The political and humourous works of Thomas Rowlandson, 1774-1825
Container / Volume:
Vol. 1 (Box 1 of 2) | Folder I-22a
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
Prints & Photographs
Abstract:
"In the centre of the design is the Coronation Chair (in Westminster Abbey), raised on four steps. Britannia on the right of the Chair takes the hand of the Prince of Wales, who is on the left, to lead him up to it; each rests a foot on the lowest step, inscribed 'Voice of the People'. The other steps are 'Public Safety', 'Patriotism', 'Virtue'. Britannia points with her left hand at Pitt and three maniacal and screaming Furies on the right whom she is putting to flight. She says: "I have been long deceiv'd by Hypocrisy but have at last discovered an Intention of sacrifising the rights of my people to satisfy a private ambition". Pitt, fleeing terror-struck, turns his head to say: A long farewell to all my greatness. From his pocket protrude papers inscribed 'Shop Tax' and Commutation. The Furies are half-naked hags with writhing serpents for hair; one, whose belt is inscribed 'Falshood', holds in one hand serpents, in the other a flaming torch inscribed 'Rebellion'; 'Envy' tears her hair, shrieking. The British lion, beside Pitt, looks from behind Britannia's shield at his mistress, roaring angrily. The Prince is being ushered to the throne by 'Liberty' and Justice, who are pretty young women carrying their accustomed symbols. Commerce reclines on the extreme left, leaning on a bale inscribed 'Commerce', and looking admiringly up at her two companions. The Lord Mayor, followed by other citizens, advances from the left, carrying the mace; the arms of the City decorate his gown. He says: "Whilst we mourn the occasion we must feel ourselves happy in reflecting that we are blessed by a Prince whose wisdom will protect our liberties, whose Virtues will afford stability to Empire". The background is a wall with Gothic mouldings and windows. A crown is suspended above the Chair."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Attributed to Rowlandson in the British Museum catalogue., CtY-LW, Date of publication from British Museum catalogue; a questionable date of 1783 is given by Grego., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., George--IV,--King of Great Britain,--1762-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., and Riviere & Son Binding.
"A very fat John Bull (right), in profile to the left, tugs hard at a rope which is round the fork of a tree, trying hard to pull it down, his left foot planted on the trunk. In the branches are the heads of Dundas (left) and Pitt (centre) in profile to the right, and of (?) Loughborough looking towards Pitt and wearing a collar inscribed 'To be Killed off'. Dundas, wearing a tartan neckcloth, is plethoric, Pitt drink-blotched and smiling. Near the heads are three money-bags: 'Sinecures', 'Treasury Pickings', 'Secret Service Money', and a scroll, 'Pensions'. Against the trunk (left) lies a headsman's axe. Beneath the title: "Yes, honest John! by your Pulling, you have Shaken it! - pull again & it will Totter, pull once more, & it will fall" - Vide Horne Tooke Speech Answer to Horne Tooke " You may pluck up a Hazel & pull up a Pea, But there ne'er was a Man, that could pull down a Tree And so Honest John if you'd pluck off the Fruit, Leave pulling alone, lay the Ax to the Root!'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A vulture with the head of Pitt (in profile to the left) grasps in the left claw the Crown and sceptre, in the other (outstretched) the coronet of the Prince of Wales; the latter he crushes under the weight of his powerful talons, while he bites at the Prince's feathers, one of which he has already plucked out. The gorged bird's bulging breast is inscribed 'Treasury'; under the crown lies 'Magna Charta', torn. The spread of the creature's Avmgs and the stretch of its long heck towards the feathers give an impression of savage rapacity."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A tun of 'Wine' lies on solid trestles inscribed 'Treasury Bench'. From its huge bung-hole emerges the naked body of Pitt, as Bacchus, crowned with vine branches. He leans back tipsily, a brimming glass in each hand. Behind him stands Dundas as Silenus, fat, and partly draped in tartan; his right hand grasps Pitt's shoulder, in his left he holds up a brimming glass. He also is crowned with vine branches. Bunches of grapes hang down from a vine above their heads and are indicated as a background to the cask whose trestles are on a dais covered with a fringed carpet. Opposite the tun stands John Bull in profile to the left, looking up at Pitt, hat in hand; in his left hand is a lank purse, under his arm three empty bottles. He is a yokel, with lank hair and hydrocephalic head, wearing a smock and wrinkled gaiters. He says: "Pray Mr Bacchus have a bit of consideration for old John; - you know as how I've emptied my Purse already for you - & its waundedly hard to raise the price of a drop of Comfort, now that one's got no Money left for to pay for it!!!" Pitt says: "Twenty Pounds a T-Tun, ad-additional Duty i-i-if you d-d-don't like it at that, why t-t-t-then Dad & I will keep it all for o-o-our own Drinking, so here g-g-goes old Bu-Bu-Bull & Mouth!!! - "."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Triumph of Bacchus & Silenus and Triumph of Bacchus and Silenus
Description:
Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character)--Caricatures and cartoons.