Alecto, a fantastic hag, 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, 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'. She says: "Come on my brave Lad, take this bounty-money, & enter into my Company of Gentlemen Volunteers enlisted in the cause of Liberty - I'll find you present pay and free quarters, & I'll lead you where you shall fill your knapsack with Plunder; - nay Man, never talk about your old Master the Farmer, I'll find you Hundreds of Masters as good as he; Zounds I'll make you one of the Masters of England yourself: - come on, I say, keres riches for you, - come on; the glorious 14th of July is approaching, when Monarchs are to be crush'd like maggots, & brave men like yourself are to be put in their places - here hold your hand, enter boldly in the cause of Freedom, & cry Huzza - Vive la Nation! Huzza". 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. He answers: "Wounds, Measter Sarjeant, an I should enter into your sarvice, what'll Varmer-George say to I, for leaving of 'en without warning? - and yet I is half in love with the sound of your drum; & wishes to leave off Ploughing & dunging, & wear one of your vine cockades, & be a French Gentleman; - & yet, dangs it, it goes against ones heart to leave the Varmer; - ah Varmer George has been a rare good Measter to I! - but, am I to have all them fine paper Moneys - but to leave my old Measter! Ah me! I dozes'nt know what to do, not I!" -- British Museum catalogue
Alternative Title:
Recruiting sarjeant enlisting John Bull into the Revolution's Service, Alecto and her train at the gate of pandaemonium, and Alecto and her train at the gate of pandaemonuim, or, The recruiting sarjeant enlisting John Bull into the Revolution Service
Description:
Title inscribed in brown ink below image., 'Imprint statement' inscribed in brown ink above title: Pub. July 4th, 1791 by S.W. Fores, N. 3 Piccadilly., Description of published Gillray print in Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6, no. 7889., Wright, T. Description of published Gillray print in Works of James Gillray, the caricaturist with the history of his life and times, p. 130., Wright, T. Description of published Gillray print in Historical and descriptive account of the caricatures by James Gillray, no. 56., and A 'counterprint' or transfer in brown ink from another print on verso of mount: The hopes of the party prior to July 14th.
Subject (Name):
Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Revolution Society (London, England)
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Drums (Musical instruments), Demons, Witches, and Fire
A satire on a 6 May 1791 scene between Fox and Burke in the House of Commons which resulted in their permanent estangement. Fox stands weeping as a boy kneels at his feet filling a bucket, the tears are so copious. Burke, turns back to look at him, clenching in his one hand "French Constitution and in the other "treason conspiracy, poor old England" as he trodes on a piece of paper "Canada Bill." Other Members of the House cluster on either side of the Speaker's chair shouting support for one or the other
Alternative Title:
Opposition in disorder
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed in lower right corner with artist John Nixon's "JN" monogram., Printmaker identified as Isaac Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Two lines of text from Burke's speech below title: I think myself justified in saying this, because I do know that there are people in this country avowedly endeavouring to disorder its constitution, its government & that in a very bold manner - vide Burk's [sic] speech., 1 print : etching on laid paper, hand-colored ; sheet 26.9 x 37.4 cm., Sheet trimmed within plate mark; window mounted to 36 x 51 cm., and Mounted opposite page 470 (leaf numbered '76' in pencil) in volume 3 of an extra-illustrated copy of: Moore, T. Memoirs of the life of the Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Publisher:
Publd. May 10, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, and Grey, Charles, 2nd Earl, 1764-1845
Subject (Topic):
France, History, Foreign public opinion, British, Great Britain, Politics and government, Politicians, Debates, Books, Ceremonial maces, Crying, Handkerchiefs, Buckets, Constitutions, Legislation, Documents, Demons, and Bellows
A satire on a 6 May 1791 scene between Fox and Burke in the House of Commons which resulted in their permanent estangement. Fox stands weeping as a boy kneels at his feet filling a bucket, the tears are so copious. Burke, turns back to look at him, clenching in his one hand "French Constitution and in the other "treason conspiracy, poor old England" as he trodes on a piece of paper "Canada Bill." Other Members of the House cluster on either side of the Speaker's chair shouting support for one or the other
Alternative Title:
Opposition in disorder
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed in lower right corner with artist John Nixon's "JN" monogram., Printmaker identified as Isaac Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Two lines of text from Burke's speech below title: I think myself justified in saying this, because I do know that there are people in this country avowedly endeavouring to disorder its constitution, its government & that in a very bold manner - vide Burk's [sic] speech., and Watermark: armorial shield with fleur-de-lis on top and monogram W appended at bottom.
Publisher:
Publd. May 10, 1791, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, and Grey, Charles, 2nd Earl, 1764-1845
Subject (Topic):
France, History, Foreign public opinion, British, Great Britain, Politics and government, Politicians, Debates, Books, Ceremonial maces, Crying, Handkerchiefs, Buckets, Constitutions, Legislation, Documents, Demons, and Bellows