"Under the title, and from a separate plate, is etched in three columns: 'Description. - One French Soldier putting Hand-cuffs, and another Fetters on the Speaker, whose Mouth is gagged with a Drumstick. The rest of the Members [left], two & two, tied together by the Arms with cords, (Mr Pitt & Mr Dundas by the Leg with an Iron Chain, which has three Padlocks, but the Key-holes spiked up). They are all, dressed in the Uniform of the Convicts of Botany-Bay, to wit, Coats of two Colours, long Breeches [i.e. trousers], no Stockings, & their Heads close shaved; French Guards opposite to the Members, with their Hats on; one of whom carries an Axe, & a Blazon of a Death's Head on his Breast. Two Clerks near him with their Pens in their Ears, hanging their Heads [tied back to back]. Republicans in the Galleries waving their Hats, in which are triple-colour'd Cockades, & clapping their Hands. An English Blacksmith [right], in his Waistcoat & Cap of Liberty, breaking ye Mace in pieces with a fore Hammer, the Statutes tumbled on the Floor, the Cap of Liberty [inscribed 'Egalité'] raised high behind the Speaker's Chair, below which is painted in Capital Letters, " This House adjourned to Botany Bay - sine die." The Chaffers and burning Charcoal continuing to stand in their present places in the House, but filled with red-hot Irons, to sear One Cheek of the Members before they set off; & the Other, if they shall be found Guilty, by the Verdict of a French Jury, of returning to their own Country without Leave of the French Directory in Writing. An English Cobler in the Cap of Liberty, blowing with a Bellows one of the Chaffers the Fuel, the Journals of the House.' [Dalrymple, op. cit. inf., pp. 1-2.] The Speaker holds in his mouth a drum-stick, at each end of which is a bow of parti-coloured ribbon, adding a touch of burlesque. The table lies on its side on the ground and on the heavy cloth lie papers, ink-stand, books: 'Journals of the House' (torn), 'Declaration of Rights', 'Hanover Succession', 'Claim of Rights', 'Magna Charta'. The chained members are on the Ministerial side of the House only, the Opposition side is filled with fierce-looking French soldiers, cavalry (wearing plumed helmets) with drawn sabres, infantry (wearing cocked hats) with fixed bayonets. All have daggers in their belts, except their officer, apparently Bonaparte, who has two pistols in his sash, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Pitt and Dundas, chained back to back, stand slightly apart from the other members, guarded by a ruffian with axe and 'blazon' of skull and cross-bones. Three members are chained together by the front bench (left to right): Wilberforce, [?] Lord Mulgrave, Windham. The cobbler and the blacksmith are Fox and Sheridan, much caricatured and scarcely recognizable. [See Dalrymple's prospectus: 'Consequences of the French Invasion', p. vi. He charged Gillray 'not to introduce a single Caricature, or indulge a single sally that could give pain to a British Subject. I had little Occasion to repeat the Advice, for he is a Man of Genius; and, like all such Men, is fair and human'. Dalrymple wrote to Gillray: 'I beg you will not impute what I am going to mention to any Breach of my promise not to interfere in any of the prints. But I confess I wish that the Gag was out of the Speaker's Mouth. It may hurt his feelings as a Gentleman . . .' (n.d.). B.M. Add. 27337, fo. 20. The gag was Dalrymple's idea.]."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Publisher's name and publication date in imprint are scored through with lightly etched lines., "Price, 6 d. Colourd. 1 sh. 3 d.", Smaller plate consists entirely of etched text and is printed below title of plate with image., Three columns of text on lower plate begins: Description. One French soldier putting hand-cuffs, and another fetters on the Speaker, whose mouth is gagged ..., Temporary local subject terms: Literature: Allusion to Consequences of the French invasion, by Sir John Dalrymple -- Uniforms: Convicts of Botany Bay -- Musical instruments: Drumstick as a gag -- Interior of House of Commons -- Threat of French invasion -- Propaganda -- Declaration of rights -- Hanover succession -- Journals of the House -- Blazons: Death's head -- Branding irons -- Allusion to Botany Bay -- Clerks -- Cap of Liberty -- Blacksmiths -- Bellows -- Chafers -- Maces -- Magna Charta -- Fore hammers -- Statutes -- Cobblers -- French Republicans -- Speaker of the House -- Military: French soldiers., With: Gillray, J. "We come to recover your long lost liberties": scene, the House of Commons. London: Pubd. March 1st, 1798, by Js. Gillray, 27 St. James's Street, [1 March 1798]., and Watermark: 1794.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 1st, 1798, by Js. Gillray, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833, Mulgrave, Henry Phipps, Earl of, 1755-1831, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Six men, seated and standing behind a table on which are decanters, punch-bowl, &c, drink a treasonous toast. This is given by Priestley (left) who stands in profile to the right, holding up an empty Communion dish and a brimming chalice, saying, "The------ [King's] Head, here!" Fox sits in the centre, raising his glass, his right hand on his heart; he looks up ecstatically, saying, "My Soul & Body, both, upon this Toast!!!" On his right. sits Sir Cecil Wray, saying, "O Heav'ns! why I would empty a Chelsea Pensioners small-beer barrel in such a cause!!" [see BMSat 7892]. On the extreme left Sheridan bends forward, avidly filling his glass from a decanter of Sherry; he says, "Damn my Eyes! but I'll pledge you that Toast tho Hell gapes for me." On Fox's left sits Horne Tooke, saying, "I have not drank so glorious a Toast since I was Parson of Brentford, & kept it up with Balf & McQuirk!" (He had tried to secure the execution of these two 'bludgeon men' for murder at the Middlesex Election of 1768; though convicted they were pardoned, see BMSats 4223-4226.) He grasps a decanter of 'Holland[s]' (perhaps indicating attachment to Fox, after previous hostility, cf. BMSat 7652). On the extreme right sits Dr. Lindsey, with (like Sheridan) a drink-blotched face; he drinks, saying, "Amen! Amen!" Before him are two decanters of 'Brandy'. Behind Horne Tooke and Lindsey stands a group of sanctimonious dissenters, with lank hair, much caricatured; three say respectively: "Hear our Prayers: & preserve us from Kings & Whores of Babylon!!!"; "Put enmity between us & the ungodly and bring down the Heads of all Tyrants & usurpers quickly good Lord - Hear us good Lord". and "O! grant the Wishes of thine inheritance". On the wall above Foxs head is a picture of St. Paul's Cathedral; from the façade emerge the heads of three pigs feeding from a trough. This is 'A Pig's-Stye \ a View from Hackney' (an allusion to Priestley's congregation at the Gravel Pit chapel. Hackney, where he had succeeded Price)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on three edges.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 23d, 1791, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804, Wray, Cecil, Sir, 1734-1805, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Lindsey, Theophilus, 1723-1808
"Six men, seated and standing behind a table on which are decanters, punch-bowl, &c, drink a treasonous toast. This is given by Priestley (left) who stands in profile to the right, holding up an empty Communion dish and a brimming chalice, saying, "The------ [King's] Head, here!" Fox sits in the centre, raising his glass, his right hand on his heart; he looks up ecstatically, saying, "My Soul & Body, both, upon this Toast!!!" On his right. sits Sir Cecil Wray, saying, "O Heav'ns! why I would empty a Chelsea Pensioners small-beer barrel in such a cause!!" [see BMSat 7892]. On the extreme left Sheridan bends forward, avidly filling his glass from a decanter of Sherry; he says, "Damn my Eyes! but I'll pledge you that Toast tho Hell gapes for me." On Fox's left sits Horne Tooke, saying, "I have not drank so glorious a Toast since I was Parson of Brentford, & kept it up with Balf & McQuirk!" (He had tried to secure the execution of these two 'bludgeon men' for murder at the Middlesex Election of 1768; though convicted they were pardoned, see BMSats 4223-4226.) He grasps a decanter of 'Holland[s]' (perhaps indicating attachment to Fox, after previous hostility, cf. BMSat 7652). On the extreme right sits Dr. Lindsey, with (like Sheridan) a drink-blotched face; he drinks, saying, "Amen! Amen!" Before him are two decanters of 'Brandy'. Behind Horne Tooke and Lindsey stands a group of sanctimonious dissenters, with lank hair, much caricatured; three say respectively: "Hear our Prayers: & preserve us from Kings & Whores of Babylon!!!"; "Put enmity between us & the ungodly and bring down the Heads of all Tyrants & usurpers quickly good Lord - Hear us good Lord". and "O! grant the Wishes of thine inheritance". On the wall above Foxs head is a picture of St. Paul's Cathedral; from the façade emerge the heads of three pigs feeding from a trough. This is 'A Pig's-Stye \ a View from Hackney' (an allusion to Priestley's congregation at the Gravel Pit chapel. Hackney, where he had succeeded Price)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on three edges., 1 print : etching, hand-colored, on laid paper ; sheet 280 x 496 mm., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on three edges, and two holes have been cut from sheet and repaired., Added in contemporary hand in lower right of sheet: These are the Friends of the Constitution., and Watermark.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 23d, 1791, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804, Wray, Cecil, Sir, 1734-1805, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Lindsey, Theophilus, 1723-1808
"Alecto, a fantastic hag (as in BMSat 7721), stands outside the Crown and Anchor tavern between a diminutive Sheridan (left), playing a fife, and Fox (right), a burly drummer, both wearing regimentals. She towers above them, holding a long pike surmounted by a cap of 'Liberty' and holding out to John Bull, a yokel (as in BMSat 8141), a handful of 'Assignats'. Hissing serpents form her hair and serpents suck at the pendent breasts which her ragged garments do not cover. She has webbed wings, and wears a French cocked hat with a tricolour cockade inscribed 'Liberty'. ... John Bull stands on the left, scratching his head with a puzzled grin; he wears a smock and very wrinkled gaiters; his hat and a pitchfork are in his left hand. ... Sheridan stands between Alecto and John Bull. ... Fox is much larger than Sheridan, both wear French Grenadier's caps. On his drum is the head of a Medusa (Discord) with snaky locks. He smiles, watching John Bull with a stare of eager calculation. ... Behind him and on the extreme right. Stanhope runs off to the right, stooping as if to conceal himself; in his right hand is a letter: 'To Lord Stanhop[e] from W. Pitt.' ... The door of the Crown & Anchor Tavern is immediately behind Fox and Alecto. From it issue flames and smoke in which imps and demons are flying."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Recruiting sarjeant enlisting John-Bull into the Revolution Service
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on lower edge., and Watermark: Hall & Taplin 1804.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 4th, 1791, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Alecto, a fantastic hag (as in BMSat 7721), stands outside the Crown and Anchor tavern between a diminutive Sheridan (left), playing a fife, and Fox (right), a burly drummer, both wearing regimentals. She towers above them, holding a long pike surmounted by a cap of 'Liberty' and holding out to John Bull, a yokel (as in BMSat 8141), a handful of 'Assignats'. Hissing serpents form her hair and serpents suck at the pendent breasts which her ragged garments do not cover. She has webbed wings, and wears a French cocked hat with a tricolour cockade inscribed 'Liberty'. ... John Bull stands on the left, scratching his head with a puzzled grin; he wears a smock and very wrinkled gaiters; his hat and a pitchfork are in his left hand. ... Sheridan stands between Alecto and John Bull. ... Fox is much larger than Sheridan, both wear French Grenadier's caps. On his drum is the head of a Medusa (Discord) with snaky locks. He smiles, watching John Bull with a stare of eager calculation. ... Behind him and on the extreme right. Stanhope runs off to the right, stooping as if to conceal himself; in his right hand is a letter: 'To Lord Stanhop[e] from W. Pitt.' ... The door of the Crown & Anchor Tavern is immediately behind Fox and Alecto. From it issue flames and smoke in which imps and demons are flying."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Recruiting sarjeant enlisting John-Bull into the Revolution Service
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on lower edge., 1 print : etching, hand-colored, on laid paper ; sheet 377 x 469 mm., and Imperfect; sheet trimmed within plate mark on upper and lower edges with some loss of top portion of image. Mounted to 40 x 56 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 4th, 1791, by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Fox as Guy Vaux kneels on one knee beside a pile of three barrels which he is about to fire with a lighted paper inscribed 'Rights of Man', holding up a dark lantern in his left hand. Burke, dressed as a watchman, rushes towards him and seizes Fox's left wrist, turning the rays of the lantern on his face, while he springs the rattle in his outstretched right hand. His long staff rests on his shoulder and he wears a long coat with a triple collar, badged on the left sleeve with a crown. He says, ""Hold Miscreant - I arrest thee in the name of the British Constitution, which thou art undermining - I arrest thee in the name of human nature, which thou hast most cruelly outraged; - I arrest thee in the name of that Monarch whom thou dost wish to deprive of dignity, & of that people whom thou hast most basely deluded! - Nay, no fawning: - thy Tears & thy hypocrisy make no impression on the mind of truth & Loyalty: - therefore, Enemy of all good! yeild to that punishmt which has long waited those "crimes which are left as yet unwhipt of Justice"". Fox, who wears a slouch hat and a long cloak buttoned over his mouth, says, "O Lord! O Lord! that ever my aim should be discover'd when I had taken such pains to disguise myself - for Heavens sake, Watchman, what have I done that I should be apprehended? - what have I done only answer me that! - dare you accuse me only for what you think I intended to do ? - have I ever assassinated the King, or blown up the Lords ? - as to this Gunpowder here, I only intended to set fire to it merely to clear the Nation of Buggs: - for goodness sake do let me go: - or if I must suffer do let it be without holding up my own dark Lanthorn in my Face, for my Eyes are so weak with crying to think I should be charged with such Villainy, that I cannot bear the Light." Large tears fall from his eyes. The barrels are inscribed 'Gunpowder', one 'for the King', another 'for the House of Lords'. Behind, Sheridan escapes up a flight of steps, he follows another conspirator whose leg is visible on the extreme right. He says, I must be off while I can; as to my Friend there, why, if he does go to pot there's the more room for me! - I wish I could squeeze out a Tear or two as well as he, it might impose on the Mob, if they should stop me: - but I've come that humbug so often before, that my Eyes - Da-n my Eyes! there's not one drop left in them." ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in lower right corner of image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text below title: NB his associates were all taken afterwards & executed., Sheet trimmed leaving thread margins., Temporary local subject terms: Charles Fox as Guy Vaux -- Allusion to George II, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820 -- Plot against House of Lords -- Gunpowder Plot, 1604 -- Dark lantern -- Watchman's rattle -- Burke as watchman -- Watchman's staff -- Denounced coalition -- Quarrel: Fox and Burke, 1791 -- Puns: 'Vaux' for Fox -- Burke's spectacles., 1 print : etching, hand-colored, on laid paper ; sheet 356 x 502 mm, mounted to 37 x 56 cm., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Identifications in Thomas Kirgate's hand written at bottom of sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 14th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Fox as Guy Vaux kneels on one knee beside a pile of three barrels which he is about to fire with a lighted paper inscribed 'Rights of Man', holding up a dark lantern in his left hand. Burke, dressed as a watchman, rushes towards him and seizes Fox's left wrist, turning the rays of the lantern on his face, while he springs the rattle in his outstretched right hand. His long staff rests on his shoulder and he wears a long coat with a triple collar, badged on the left sleeve with a crown. He says, ""Hold Miscreant - I arrest thee in the name of the British Constitution, which thou art undermining - I arrest thee in the name of human nature, which thou hast most cruelly outraged; - I arrest thee in the name of that Monarch whom thou dost wish to deprive of dignity, & of that people whom thou hast most basely deluded! - Nay, no fawning: - thy Tears & thy hypocrisy make no impression on the mind of truth & Loyalty: - therefore, Enemy of all good! yeild to that punishmt which has long waited those "crimes which are left as yet unwhipt of Justice"". Fox, who wears a slouch hat and a long cloak buttoned over his mouth, says, "O Lord! O Lord! that ever my aim should be discover'd when I had taken such pains to disguise myself - for Heavens sake, Watchman, what have I done that I should be apprehended? - what have I done only answer me that! - dare you accuse me only for what you think I intended to do ? - have I ever assassinated the King, or blown up the Lords ? - as to this Gunpowder here, I only intended to set fire to it merely to clear the Nation of Buggs: - for goodness sake do let me go: - or if I must suffer do let it be without holding up my own dark Lanthorn in my Face, for my Eyes are so weak with crying to think I should be charged with such Villainy, that I cannot bear the Light." Large tears fall from his eyes. The barrels are inscribed 'Gunpowder', one 'for the King', another 'for the House of Lords'. Behind, Sheridan escapes up a flight of steps, he follows another conspirator whose leg is visible on the extreme right. He says, I must be off while I can; as to my Friend there, why, if he does go to pot there's the more room for me! - I wish I could squeeze out a Tear or two as well as he, it might impose on the Mob, if they should stop me: - but I've come that humbug so often before, that my Eyes - Da-n my Eyes! there's not one drop left in them." ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in lower right corner of image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text below title: NB his associates were all taken afterwards & executed., Sheet trimmed leaving thread margins., Temporary local subject terms: Charles Fox as Guy Vaux -- Allusion to George II, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820 -- Plot against House of Lords -- Gunpowder Plot, 1604 -- Dark lantern -- Watchman's rattle -- Burke as watchman -- Watchman's staff -- Denounced coalition -- Quarrel: Fox and Burke, 1791 -- Puns: 'Vaux' for Fox -- Burke's spectacles., and Watermark: Turkey Mills J. Whatman.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 14th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"The procession has advanced to the door of a church (r.) which a parson closes, dropping his prayer-book, open at the 'Burial Service'. Only his arms and robe are visible; he says: " - no Burial here, for Broad-Bottom: - he died a Roman; - besides, - 'tis a felo-de-se case; - take him to the next 4 cross-roads; & the Family has a large Stake always ready!" Only the acolyte at the head of the procession has realized this check: little Lord Henry Petty drops his bell and candle and capers in dismay. The three pall-bearers (a fourth is hidden behind the coffin) are (l. to r.) Sidmouth, Lord St. Vincent, and Windham. All wear mourning hats, scarves, and cloaks, and clutch handkerchiefs, weeping large tears. Below the coffin are seen the robes and bare sandalled feet of monks. On the top of the coffin is Grenville, face downwards, and showing the back of his wig, and a dome- shaped hump denoting his famous 'broad-bottom' (see BMSat 10530). At the four corners are ostrich plumes. On a placard on the side of the pall: 'Gul: Baro: de Broad-Bottom Obiit die Martis 24° A: D. 1807'. Behind the coffin walks the Pope, in his tiara and robes, weeping and supported between the Marquis of Buckingham and his son Lord Temple. Both weep with gestures of extravagant grief; both are dressed as priests. Behind, thin and ascetic, is Howick, a barefooted monk, holding up the Pope's long robes. Behind walk arm-in-arm, both shambling and dissipated, Sheridan clutching a bottle of 'Brandy' and General Fitzpatrick, from whose pocket hangs a paper: 'Tears of Hedge Lane' [a squalid resort of prostitutes in Westminster]. Both wear mourning hats, scarves, and cloaks. Next, Erskine and Ellenborough walk together; Erskine claps to his eye his beloved and discarded Chancellor's wig. At the end of the procession and on the extreme left. are Lauderdale and Moira wearing his cocked hat with a mourning scarf and cloak. All weep, registering deep distress. There is a landscape background."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text at top of image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Watermark: J. Whatman., and Figures within image numbered 1 to 13 in a contemporary hand.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 6th, 1807, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. Jamess [sic] Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, St. Vincent, John Jervis, Viscount, 1735-1823, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Fitzpatrick, Richard, 1747-1813, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, and Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839
"A scaffold extends across the foreground: Fox raises an axe to strike the neck of George III, whose head is held by Sheridan. The scaffold is surrounded by a dense and cheering mob. On the right is the gate of the 'Crown & Anchor' tavern, and from two projecting lamp-brackets swing the bodies of Queen Charlotte and Pitt. The houses of the Strand recede in perspective and terminate in Temple Bar, with two heads on spikes; clouds of smoke appear to come from burning houses east of Temple Bar. On the clouds a meretricious Liberty sits enthroned and triumphant. The King's neck rests on a narrow block, his shaved head appears bald, his legs are held up by Horne Tooke, who stands on the left, saying: "O, such a day as this, so renown'd so victorious, Such a day as this was never seen Revolutionists so gay; - while Aristocrats notorious, Tremble at the universal glee." From Tooke's pocket projects a paper: 'Petition of Horne Tooke' (against the return of Fox and Hood for Westminster, see British Museum Satires No. 7690). The King, who supports himself on his hands, says, "What! What! What! - what's the matter now". Fox, enormously stout, straddles behind the King, full face his axe raised in both hands; he wears a mask with large circular eye-holes and fox's ears; he says: "Zounds! what the devil is it that puts me into such a hell of a Funk? - damn it, it is but giving one good blow, & all is settled! - but what if I should miss my aim! - ah! it's the fear of that which makes me stink so! - & yet, damnation! what should I be afraid of? if I should not succeed, why nobody can find me out in this Mask, any more than the Man who chop'd the Calf's-head off, a Hundred & Forty Years ago - and so here goes!" Sheridan kneels in profile to the left holding the King by the ear and nose, he looks up at Fox with a sinister scowl, saying, "Hell & Damnation, dont be afraid give a home stroke, & then throw off the Mask - Zounds, I wish I had hold of the Hatchet." Priestley, behind Sheridan, leans towards the King, saying, "Don't be alarmed at your situation, my dear Brother; we must all dye once; and, therefore what does it signify whether we dye today or tomorrow - in fact, a Man ought to be glad of the opportunity of dying, if by that means he can serve his Country, in bringing about a glorious Revolution: - & as to your Soul, or any thing after death don't trouble yourself about that; depend on it, the Idea of a future state, is all an imposition: & as every thing here is vanity & vexation of spirit, you should therefore rejoice at the moment which will render you easy & quiet". He holds a paper: 'Priestley on a Future State'. Sir Cecil Wray stands with his right hand on Sheridan's shoulder, saying, "Here do give me a little room Joseph that I may be in readiness to catch the droppings of the Small Beer when it is tapp'd; I never can bear to see the Small Beer wasted Joseph!" He holds in his left hand a small cask, 'For Small Beer', and a large pipe; in his pocket is a paper: 'Plan of Chelsea Hospital by Sir Ceci[l] Wray'. The Queen is cruelly caricatured; she swings against Pitt, who is in a death agony with crisped fingers."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted to 37 x 55 cm., and Collector's annotations on mount.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 19th, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Charlotte, Queen, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804, and Wray, Cecil, Sir, 1734-1805
Subject (Topic):
Axes, Executioners, Hangings (Executions), and Crowds