"A spectacled auctioneer (the well-known Squibb) stands full-face in his rostrum with hammer raised, pointing downwards at a misshapen brass (yellow) figure of Queen Caroline in quasi-classical draperies, her arms akimbo, and displaying an ungainly leg. She stands on a wooden head of Alderman Wood, both being directed slightly to the left. Her sandalled feet rest on two curving supports of the head, which resemble the drooping peaks of a fool's cap. Near it lies a bundle of bulky papers, 'Defence of Innocence', labelled 'Lot 2 Waste Paper'. These two lots are on a table forming the base of the design below the rostrum. Behind the auctioneer less conspicuous lots are ranged on shelves: more bulky bundles inscribed 'Waste Paper Lot 3--Times'. A box of bonnets rouges with tricolour cockades inscribed 'To be Sold by Private Contract', with other chests of caps and of daggers, both inscribed 'Private'. A jar is 'Lot 5 Unsunned Snow' [see British Museum Satires No. 13975]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Going! A going! the last time ... and To be sold by public auction, by Mr. Squib at Bullock's rooms ...
Description:
Title etched above image., Seven lines of text below image: To be sold by public auction, by Mr. Squib at Bullock's rooms. Lot 1. (for exportation) Xantippe, a brazen statue, supported by a prime block of soft alder wood, a matchless article ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted on page 26 of: George Humphrey shop album.
Publisher:
Pubd. Aprial [sic] 13, 1821, by G. Humphrey, No. 27 St. James's St., London
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Squibb, George, approximately 1764-1831, Bergami, Bartolomeo Bergami, Baron., Bullock, William, 1773-1849., and Xanthippe.
Subject (Topic):
Auctions, Auctioneers, Stages (Platforms), Gavels, Sculpture, Documents, and Liberty cap
"George IV (three-quarter length), surrounded by admiring Ministers, holds up a big extinguisher made of paper and inscribed 'Speech from the Throne', which he is about to place over a crowd of tiny Jacobins who surround the Queen and Alderman Wood. All these 'Lilliputians' are on a round table, whose top forms the base of the design except on the right. The terrified Jacobins fall on to papers inscribed 'Libels', 'Address' [twice], 'Sedition'. Alderman Wood steps on the back of one in a frantic effort to escape with the Queen whom he holds in his arms. She is a fat virago, holding up a fire-brand (cf. British Museum Satires No. 13895) inscribed 'Sedition', whose smoke rises into the extinguisher, and a large money-bag, '50 000 per Ann', labelled 'Crumbs of Consolation'. Other Jacobins flee to left and right, escaping the extinguisher, but either falling calamitously from the table, or about to be grasped by the hand of Eldon who sits at the table (left). They have banners and caps of Liberty on poles (or pikes). Among the fugitives is a Don Quixote (left) in armour, wearing Mambrino's helmet, galloping off on horseback, holding a banner. A terrified Jacobin (right) drops a 'Tailors Adress'. Ministers watch the approaching extinction with pleasure: Eldon has a grim smile, Sidmouth and Castlereagh behind him register, one eager delight, the other bland satisfaction. Wellington (right), close behind the King, smiles triumphantly, Liverpool beside him, is in profile, surprised, pleased, and imbecile. The King, three-quarter length, is a cynical Adonis, in military uniform. Behind his head is a framed picture: an irradiated sun containing features dispels dark clouds, putting bats, serpent, owl, &c., to flight; beside it is a dark disk containing the features of the Queen, in eclipse (reversing the situation in British Museum Satires No. 14012)."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
King of Brobdingnag & the Lilliputians and King of Brobdingnag and the Lilliputians
Description:
Title etched below image., Two lines of quoted text below title: "Confound their politick's, frustrate their knavish tricks." "God save the king"!, Text above image: Ah! ha! Madam Q-!, Monsr. W! Messrs. Radicals, Addressers, & Co.!! Where are you now?!!! Ah ha! ha! ha! ha!, Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted on page 33 of: George Humphrey shop album.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 7th, 1821, by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street, London
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, and Quixote, Don (Fictitious character)
Subject (Topic):
Politicians, Fire extinguishers, Tables, Crowds, Documents, Torches, Money, Banners, Liberty cap, and Military uniforms
"The King and Ministers, as domestic servants in déshabille, surround a rush-light, trying, with fierce intentness, to blow it out. The flame of the light encloses the head of Queen Caroline wearing her feathered hat; the rush is supported on a saveall formed of the head of Wood [Brougham, according to Reid, who is incorrect in some of the other identifications], and placed in a kitchen candlestick standing on a rectangular table. The centre figure is Eldon, his Chancellor's wig formed of a pair of breeches. He leans sideways and the King, wearing a night-cap, looks over his shoulder, blowing downwards. Next them is Wellington, whose blast is better directed than that of the others, but all miss the flame by blowing too low. On the left are two old women, Sidmouth, using his (green) clyster-pipe as a squirt, and Liverpool, whose night-cap is a green bag (see British Museum Satires No. 13735). Facing these are the Duke of York, next Eldon, and the Duke of Clarence on the extreme left, as a hideous black man, whose strong but ill-directed blast is inscribed 'Slander' [see British Museum Satires No. 14031, &c.]. Three other heads are in shadow, like the King; they watch with anxiety, but are not blowing; they are Castlereagh (left) and two women (right). Below the design: "Cook, Coachee, men & maids, very near all in buff, Came & swore in their lives they never met with such a light; And each of the family by turns had a puff, At the little farthing rush light, The curst farthing rush light, But none of the family Could blow out the rush light.!""--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted on page 32 of: George Humphrey shop album.
Publisher:
Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St., London
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, and Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822
Subject (Topic):
Politicians, Servants, Candles, Bags, and Medical equipment & supplies