"Two designs placed side by side, the title so arranged that 'The Contrast' applies to both, the first four and last two words to the two designs respectively. [1] A scene outside Jaffa where the French flag flies from a fort on a rock at whose base are hospital tents (left), in which the sick can be seen. In the foreground Napoleon (a poor portrait) points with an imperious gesture to a bottle of 'Opium' in the hand of a distressed doctor in civilian dress. He says: "Don't talk to me of Humanity & the feelings of a generous heart, I say Poison those Sick dogs they are a burthen to me, & can no longer fight my Battles!!! I say destroy them - As for those Turks, them up in the Garrison, turn all the Guns upon them, Men, Women, & Children & blow them to atoms, they are too bold & resolute for me to suffer them to live, they are in my Way." In the middle distance (left) is a body of Turks, their arms tied behind them, guarded by a French soldier who points at Napoleon. Behind Napoleon two French officers exchange glances, acutely dismayed at the orders." ... [2] Two black soldiers, in neat regimentals, prepare to kill three haggard French officers. One raises an axe to smite a bound prisoner. Two British officers (left) interpose with outstretched arms; one says: "We know they are our Enemies, & yours, & the Enemies of all Mankind, nevertheless Humanity is so strongly planted in the Breast of an Englisman [sic], that he can become an humble beggar, for the lives, even of his enemies, when they are subdued." The other adds: "A mercy unexpected, undeserved surprises more."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Contrast to English humanity
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Publisher's advertisement in lower right: Folios of caracatures [sic] lent out for the evening., and Mounted on a 19th-century blue album sheet. On the verso are newspaper clippings on a variety of topics: Sir Lionel Darell and the benevolence of the King to grant him land for his greenhouses in Richmond Park; "Observations on the rot of sheep"; Poem entitled "Leamington Spa"; "Balloon Ascension" an extract from a letter from Bristol, dated Sept 26.; an report of the death of Simon Southward, a miller who was a prisoner for 43 years for debt and the delusion of being the Earl of Derby.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany. 13, 1804, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
Subject (Topic):
Black people, Flags, French, Forts & fortifications, Tents, Military medicine, Sick persons, Soldiers, Physicians, Opium, Military officers, Prisoners of war, Turkish, British, Physical restraints, and Axes
"Two adjacent designs: on the left Sheridan drink-sodden and blear-eyed, stoops obsequiously, right hand on heart, hat held low, directed to the right. He says, slyly, "Gentlemen, it is with the most unfeigned submission I present myself to Your Notice, most Humbly requesting your kind suffrages to return me (although unworthy) one of Your representatives for the great City of Westminster, and when I consider whom I succeed, I cannot but sincerly [sic] deplore his loss, but much more so my inadequacy to fill his place, and can only most solemnly promise to exert the utmost of my poor abilities to keep my place." On the right Sheridan with legs astride, hands thrust in his breeches pocket, hat on his head, still drink-sodden and sly, but more alert, says, looking to the left: "Electors, I feel a satisfaction in my own bosom (which I cannot refrain from expressing,) that my transcendant Merit fully entitle me to be chosen your representative, and that you have barely done yourselves justice in returnig [sic] me, why you must have been cursed fools if you had not, & as to that Mr Paul & Mr Cobbett, their speeches are so ungentlemanlike that I do not think it worth my while to answer them, why the fellows say I get drunk one half the day, & lie in bed the other, I dont chuse to answer that, they say I don't pay my Debts Fools! what did I want to get into Parliament for, they say I have never signed those measures since I have been in administration which I so strongly declared necessary while out of Office, this shews their Ignorance! why should I propose reform now when all my Friends have got to be served.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Canvassing candidate
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on top edge., Window mounted to 36 x 51 cm., and Mounted opposite page 621 (leaf numbered '58' in pencil) in volume 4 of an extra-illustrated copy of: Moore, T. Memoirs of the life of the Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 1806 by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Cobbett, William, 1763-1835., Paull, James, 1770-1808., and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816.
"John Bull, as a burly and ugly sailor, sits enthroned (right), listening to Melville's plea of innocence. Melville, in Highland dress, and wearing a feathered bonnet, stands in profile to the right. with clasped hands and flexed knees; he says: "Indeed Mr Bull - I knaw nae more aboot it - than Johnny Groat o'the Highlands." Trotter lurks behind him (left) furtively twitching his superior's kilt, and jerking his thumb to the left.; he says: "Take my advice - and let us Trot off while we are well, he looks confounded inquisitive." John scowls and glares pugnaciously, saying, "Why Look ye - de ye see - I dont come for to go for to say - exactly, that you sack'd the cole - all I say is the Shiners set sail - and as you had the care of the Hatches - it is, likely, you should know what Port they steer'd into! I say let's look at your log book Old one." He wears striped trousers and a knotted scarf; in his hat is a tobacco-pipe. His chair stands on a dais and is decorated with a crowned anchor and dolphins."--British Museum online catalogue and A satire on Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, who was accused of appropriating funds for non-naval purposes during his tenure as Lord of the Admiralty. Dundas was the most prominent Scottish politician of his era and instrumental in the progress of the Scottish Enlightenment. He is controversial today through his delaying the abolition of slavery for several years
Alternative Title:
Iohn Bull makeing a naval enqury and John Bull making a naval enquiry
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Publisher's advertisement in lower right: Folios of caracatures lent out for the evening.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 1st, 1805, by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811., and Trotter, Alexander, 1750-1830
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Sailors, British, Thrones, Ethnic stereotypes, and Pleading (Begging)
"John Bull, a plebeian, stout and dishevelled, lies on his back on a tangle of large roses with vicious thorns. These are on a heap of stones and under the stump of a decayed oak tree (left). He exclaims: "Oh Lord! Oh Lord! if this be the Bed of Roses they make such a noise about I'd sooner lye with the Old Sow and her Farrow in the Dog Days! - My Dame will roar woundidly when she comes to bed! Ecod it's as bad as lying on a Harrow upside down." The stones (left to right) are 'Expedition to Holland' [1799, see British Museum Satires No. 9412, &c], 'Expedition to Ferrol', 'Jobs and Contracts', 'Pension List', 'Indemnity for the past & Security for the Future', 'No Peace possible with the child and Champion of Jacobinism', 'Places', 'Subsidies'. The roses are: 'Candle Tax', 'Hair Powder Tax', 'Hat Tax', 'Paper Tax', 'Snuff Tax', 'Game Tax', 'Wine Tax', 'Property Tax', 'Salt Tax', 'Land Tax', 'Stamp Tax', 'Assessed Taxes', 'Income Tax', 'Table Beer Tax', 'House Tax', 'Window Tax', 'Excise Duty', 'Horse Tax', 'Tobacco Tax', 'Soap Tax', 'Servant Tax', 'Malt Tax', 'Hop Tax', 'Sugar Tax', 'Legacy Tax', 'Tea Tax', 'Cyder Tax'. On the two extremities of the 'bed' are clusters of thorny buds; these are inscribed '1807', '1808', and [once] '1809', those on the left being labelled 'National Debt'. In the distance St. Paul's is indicated. Bushes on the right are wind-swept."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull on a bed of roses
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins., and Watermark: 181[0?].
Publisher:
Pubd. July 1806 by Wm. Holland, Cockspur Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, John Bull (Symbolic character), Roses, Thorns, and Taxes
"Lady Perceval sits at an ornate writing-table, pen in hand. A serpent issues from her breast, coils round her arm, and darts its fang at the tip of her pen. She frowns meditatively, saying, "Now then for something strong but not libellous, I hate half measures we must rush upon the enemy--suprise [sic], astound him--and unhorse him by Terror--John Bull have at you! I'll open your eyes--." The table is littered with papers and books; some are docketed: 'For the Star', 'To the Editor of the Star', 'For the News', 'Extracts from the Book', one is 'Copy', a book is 'Politicks', and a large paper is displayed: 'Select Scraps from Shakespeare--with my own comments "Some achieve greatness "some have greatness thrust upon them .... Querie was this not the case with Nunky [Spencer Perceval], why not happen .... Son--.' Other papers and books lie on the floor: newspapers are 'The News' and 'The Star', a paper is headed 'Memorandums Billy Austin [see British Museum Satires No. 12027]--the Will--' Books are 'Life of Lord Nelson', 'A very Woman by Massinger', 'Machiavael', 'Johnson', 'Indiscretion a Novel', 'Don Quixote'. On the left John Mitford, identified by a letter in his coat-pocket 'To John Mit--', stands facing the wall, and hanging one picture over another: he places a view of a country inn, 'The Tigers Head' above one of '[War]burton's Mad House', saying, "Come this is a prettier picture than the other [left] shall catch some fish in this neighbourhood." He is fashionably dressed, wearing Hessian boots. This picture is on the left of a row: a large picture of 'Alecto' (cf. British Museum Satires No. 7721), naked, wreathed in serpents, and brandishing scourge and fire-brand, with a background of flames hangs between three-quarter length portraits of 'Lady Douglas' and 'Lady A Hamilton'. The former covers her face with a tragic gesture; a dagger lies on a table beside her, she seems to contemplate suicide. The latter clasps her hands. Over the chimneypiece (right) is a three-quarter length portrait of 'Lord P . . . . val' concealing his face with his hat; below, and partly hiding the frame, is a statuette of a knight killing a dragon. On the chimney-piece there is also a bottle labelled 'Cephalic' (for diseases of the head). Papers are burning in the grate, one inscribed 'To[o] Libellous'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Lady Paragraph championizing
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Text following title: - vide Letters., Imperfect; sheet trimmed within plate mark with loss of text following title. Missing text supplied from impression in the British Museum., Temporary local subject terms: Pictures amplify subject., Watermark: C. Ansell 1807., and Formerly mounted with remnants on verso.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 4th, 1814, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
"Napoleon (left) and Joseph sit side by side on low seats or stools, both with a hand on each knee. They have large, elongated heads broadly caricatured (as in British Museum Satires No. 10604, &c.) and look sideways at each other with drawn-down mouths and wrinkled foreheads. Napoleon is in uniform, wearing a feathered bicorne; Joseph wears a crown with Spanish dress, ermine-trimmed robe, and the order of the Golden Fleece. His seat is, very inconspicuously, a commode. At his feet is a sceptre with a scroll inscribed 'Servata Fides Cineri'. Napoleon says: "A pretty piece of Business we have made of it Brother Joe." Joseph: "I always told you Nap, what would come of makeing too free with the Spaniards.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
King Nap and King Joe in the dumps
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Tentative artist attribution to Woodward from the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed., and Watermark: J. Whatman.
Publisher:
Pubd. Augt. 1808 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 and Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain, 1768-1844
Subject (Topic):
Military uniforms, French, Hats, Stools, Robes, Crowns, and Scepters
"Mrs. Clarke sits on Wardle's right shoulder, to place over the head of the Duke of York a giant extinguisher which covers all but his legs and (military) coat-tails. At the apex of the extinguisher is a five-pointed star surrounded by the letters 'T' 'R' 'U' 'T' 'H'. She says: "Beneath this Canopy's oblivious shade Detected Y------hides his diminished head" On the cone are the inscriptions: 'Multum in Papvo' [sic] and: 'Now Phoenix like, with renovated fire To noble deeds our Army shall aspire Whilst haughty Gaul shall emulate its praise And England round a Woman's brow entwine the Bays.' Wardle wears regimentals and sword and is tall and handsome; a letter 'To Col Wardle' projects from a pocket."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 1809 by I. Blacklock, Royal Exchange
Subject (Name):
Clarke, Mary Anne, 1776?-1852, Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd, 1762?-1833, and Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827
Subject (Topic):
Fire extinguishers, Military uniforms, British, and Mistresses
"Napoleon, John Bull (a 'cit'), a British general wearing a star, and the Duke of Portland sit in conference, each holding a large double paper covered with type or script. Napoleon sits on the left, pointing to the text of his paper and saying to his neighbour, "You see Mr Bull the case is simply this If you do so, I'll do so!" John, much disconcerted, stares at the Emperor, exclaiming "O! O!" The general also looks at Napoleon, perturbed. Portland (right), who sits in an armchair facing the Emperor, with frank dismay says: "If he says O! O! I'm afraid t'is but so! so!"."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Sounding the opinions of John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Later state, with imprint statement burnished from plate. For an earlier state with the imprint "Pubd. March 1808 by Walker & C., No. 7 Cornhill", see no. 10971 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., "March 1808" written in brown ink in lower right, over the remnants of the burnished imprint statement. Formerly mounted on a blue sheet, remnants visible on back., and Watermark, partially trimmed: 1811.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 and Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809
Subject (Topic):
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815, John Bull (Symbolic character), Generals, British, Sitting, and Meetings
"John Bull, a fat 'cit', is seated beside a writing-table (right) holding up a large book. On the left hand page is inscribed 'Vote of Thanks respecting the Expedition to Copenhagen'; John's pen rests on the last word, but he turns in horror to gaze at the ghosts of (left to right) Fox, Pitt, and Burke. These wear shrouds and stand on clouds; all point a menacing forefinger. Fox says: "Erase those lines from your Journal"; Pitt and Burke say "Erase". Burke wears spectacles and a Jesuit's biretta (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026), and holds a large book inscribed 'Sublime & Beautiful' [cf., e.g., British Museum Satires No. 6361]. John wears glasses, his hair rises on his head, pushing up his ill-fitting wig. He says: "Why dont you come then and transact the business yourselves? - it is impossible I can please every body. - it is come to such a pitch now that I have no peace either with the living or the dead!!!""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Spectres visiting John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 23, 1808, by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Denmark.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Subject (Topic):
Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815, Foreign relations, John Bull (Symbolic character), Ghosts, and Writing materials