William Pitt, acting as an auctioneer in the dissoluted Parliament, sells from the rostrum decorated with Royal Arms "useless valuables," such as "Magna Charta." Corwall, 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:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue for the History of the Westminster election, 1784, p. 48. See British Museum Catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark with partial loss of imprint., and Mounted to 30 x 41 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 26th by W. Humphrey No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806., Cornwall, Charles Wolfran, 1735-1789., and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Politics and government, Political elections, Auctions, and Clothing & dress
Perched atop the uppermost windmill sail are Charles Fox and Lord North, the latter prevented from falling down by Fox's helping hand. Holding on to their legs in front of the sail hangs Burke. To the left, Lord Thurlow, in judge's robes, is about to loose his grip on the descending sail and thus follow Lord Shelburne who is about to hit the ground with his head. The rising sail on the right is occupied by several pro-coalition politicians. Others are trying to climb the sail currently at the ground level. Dundas, Sheridan and Pitt inspect the condition of the beams supporting the windmill. Pitt concludes that it "is rotten & half the corn is devoured by lurking vermin."
Description:
Title from item. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Published 10 June 1783 by J. Wallis No. 16 Ludgate Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797., and Pitt, William, 1759-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Windmills, and Clothing & dress
William Pitt, in a dramatic pose, reaches up with his right hand for a sword presented to him by three cherubs encouraging him to defend King and country. With his other hand he indicates a volume inscribed, "Locke on the human understanding" on the table behind him. Above the table hangs a portrait of Lord Chatham. Members and supporters of the North-Fox coalition look on through an open window, gathered under a flag labeled "The Harmonic Society."
Description:
Title from item., Under title: "Third sketch"., and Mounted to 41 x 29 cm.
Publisher:
Published Feby. 18, 1784, as the act directs by S. Fores No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Tables, Daggers & swords, and Clothing & dress
The new ministry of Keppel, Conway, Burke, Fox and Richmond (together with Pitt the Younger) is depicted on the left riding small posts like hobby-horses, their identities indicated by numbers with a corresponding key beneath the design. On the right the members of the old ministry (Sandwich, Amherst, North and Mansfield) are shown entering the jaws of Hell, prodded by the Devil with a pitchfork. In the center is a dome on 5 pillars, the temple of the Constitution
Description:
Title from item.
Publisher:
Pubd. by W Richardson, No. 68 High Holborn London
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806. and Conway, Henry Seymour, 1721-1795.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Gallows, Pillories, Hell, Devil, and Cannons
Lord Thurlow depicted as a schoolmaster is seated on the left. He wears an enormous wig, and holds in his left hand the book "A new guide to India" and in his right a birch rod. Facing him stands Pitt dressed as a young girl, with a key (to the Treasury) hanging from her belt. On the wall behind them hangs a portait of the King labelled "a great Whig", a bust of Fox labelled "a true Whig" on top of a bookcase containing Newbery's Works, and a map with the face of Shelburne titled "a false Whig." The "h" in the first word of the title is inserted above the "i".
Alternative Title:
Master Billy learning his task and Wiggism, or, Master Billy learning his task
Description:
Title etched below image. and Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
Pubd for S.W. as the act directs, by J. Cattermoul, No. 376 Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England.
Subject (Name):
Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806., Pitt, William, 1759-1806., George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., and Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805.
The figure of Time, with his scythe, hovers in the air between the kneeling figures of Pitt on the left and Fox on the right. Through two pipes inscribed, "Court favor" and "popularity," he blows bubbles that Pitt catches in his mouth. Fox, his hands raised in supplication, begs Time for the same favor. His plea is supported by the Duchess of Devonshire who stands behind him. In the background, a radiating temple on a rock behind Pitt is inscribed, "St. Jameses." Behind Fox, a lighthouse with a flare hanging from its top is signed, "House of Commons." Between the two, on the other side of a river, is a ruined ancient city, a reference to Rome
Description:
Title from item. and Printmaker from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
Pub'd by [...]
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806., and Pitt, William, 1759-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Political elections, Scythes, Temples, Ruins, Lighthouses, Tobacco pipes, Scissors & shears, and Clothing & dress