"On the left. Fox stands at his tavern-door, which is at r. angles to the front of the house (r.), where a large open sash-window faces the spectator. Below the window is a large inscription: 'C. J. F & Co. Dealers Rectifiers and Compounders [the 'nf' of 'confounders' is scored through, and replaced by 'mp'] of foreign Spirits'. Beside the window are chequers, indicating the sale of ale; below them: 'Whitbreads intire' [cf. BMSat 10421]. Over the door is the sign: a crown, and 'The Case is Altered' [cf. BMSat 9714], with a bunch of grapes indicating the sale of wine. Fox, very neat and debonair, with a napkin under his arm, a corkscrew in his coat-pocket, a typical tavern-keeper or head-waiter, smiles at a ragged, Bohemian-looking fellow, who approaches him, with outstretched left hand, a large book under his right. arm inscribed 'Pl[an] of Reform'. The ragged reformer says: "Ah! Citizen, how do you do. I've just finisd my plan of Reform, and as you have no plan we can as well be going on with that as doing nothing." Fox, his hand thrust in his coat-pocket, answers: "Citizen!!! we-go-on-with your plan!!! I dont understand you Oh!. I suppose you mean what I used to gammon my Custommers with when I lived over the way, but that sort of fun wont do now, we are all different people!" Within the open window members of the new Ministry are seated drinking, as if at a tavern-club meeting, with Erskine, wearing a hat and Chancellor's wig and gown, in the chairman's seat, which is surmounted by the Prince of Wales's feathers (see BMSat 10525); he holds the mace. On the left. (or Erskine's r.) are Sheridan (a bottle of 'Sherry' in front of him), Grey, and Lauderdale. Opposite them are (r. to left.): Grenville, Bedford, Moira (wearing a cocked hat and smoking a long pipe), Petty, and (slightly isolated) Sidmouth. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Design for a scene in the intended new melodrama entitled The forty thieves
Description:
Questionable attribution to Isaac Cruikshank from the British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, No. 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, John Russell,--Duke of,--1766-1839--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., Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice,--Marquess of,--1780-1863--Caricatures and cartoons., Lauderdale, James Maitland,--Earl of,--1759-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., and Sidmouth, Henry Addington,--Viscount,--1757-1844--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Leaders of the Opposition (left) turn a windlass which drags towards the shore a fantastic and enormous raft laden with French troops. They push against horizontal levers which pass through the broad centre-post on which the rope is wound; on the top of this Lauderdale, in Highland dress and on a smaller scale than the others, plays the bagpipes, from which issue the words: 'Over the Water & over the Sea, And over the Raft to Charlie.' He capers to his tune; a tricolour flag flies from his instrument. The most prominent figure is Fox, advancing full-face, and looking to the raft with a satisfied smile; he says, "Pull away Citizens". Behind him, the rope between them, is Bedford in riding-dress; under his arm is a book: 'Bedford on Agriculter' (cf. BMSat 8648). Opposite Fox is Tierney, saying, "We must take care to keep clear of the Rope". From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Borough Influence' (he was M.P. for Southwark, 'the Borough', cf. BMSat 9045). Sheridan, pushing hard in profile to the left, says: "Ah! The Rope We must avoid it if possible". Norfolk, on the extreme left, puts a hand on Tierney's lever; he says: "Hark Ther's a Storm coming. I hear Thunder." They walk on a circular track by the edge of a cliff. On the ground is a large open book: 'President of the Directory CIF. [Fox] Deputy a Bedfordshire Bull [cf. BMSat 8684]'. On it lies a 'Norfolk Cheese'. Behind (left) is a gallows inscribed 'Tierney' (almost obliterated) from which hangs a corpse. In the background is a hill on the summit of which is an encampment with massed troops flying the British flag. The raft nears the shore but is about to be overwhelmed by vast waves blown up by blasts from the mouths of Dundas, the King, and Pitt, whose heads emerge from dark clouds. Dundas, in profile to the left, aims his blast at the windlass; in it (right to left) are the names: 'Jack Ketch'; 'Addington, Bond, Staples [Bow Street justices]'; 'Macnamara Fugion, Macmanus, Townsend, Jelous' [Bow Street officers or 'runners']. The King and Pitt aim directly at the raft; from the mouth of the former (full-face) issue the names 'St Vincent, Pasley, Duncan, Pellew, Nelson'; from that of Pitt (in profile to the right): 'Trollope, Thomson, Bridport, Onslow, Pringle'. In the centre of the raft is a massive fortress manned with troops; from it flies a huge tricolour flag inscribed 'Liberty and Equality'. The fort is surrounded by tents; outside there are soldiers in close formation with bayonets. The outer edge is flanked by turrets, each having a (tricolour) flag inscribed: 'Plunder'; 'Regecides Paricides'; 'Deism Atheism'; 'Robbery'; 'Murder & Ravishmt'; 'Torture'; 'Blood & Rapine'; 'Cruelty & lust'; 'Barbar[ity]'. The motive force is given by wheels worked by windmills, and by large oars. In the bows is a guillotine surmounted by a bonnet-rouge; another guillotine decorates the stern. Behind the raft (left) advance ships of war. In the foreground, flying over the agitated sea like stormy petrels, are three winged heads (right to left): Erskine, Stanhope, and (?) Thelwall. Lauderdale, Fox, Sheridan, Norfolk, and Stanhope wear bonnets-rouges."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Republican crew disappointed
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, Francis Russell,--Duke of,--1765-1802--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fores, S. W., publisher., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Lauderdale, James Maitland,--Earl of,--1759-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Norfolk, Charles Howard,--Duke of,--1746-1815--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Stanhope, Charles Stanhope,--Earl,--1753-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Thelwall, John,--1764-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., and Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons.