"George III stands on a low rectangular platform placed upon a boarded floor and is approached from all sides by applicants for office. He is in back view, but turns his head in profile to the left, to inspect a group through his spy-glass, saying: Well Gentlemen,--I have taken a peep at you all: but I am afraid that you won't do--for some of you are too Heavy & Broad-Bottom'd for Service; & the rest seem to have no Bottom at all.--So Gentlemen, I think I shall he content with my Old Servants. In the front row (left), bowing low, are three Grenvilles, the Broad-Bottoms par excellence (see No. 10530): Grenville, holding a gold-laced coachman's hat and long whip, says: Does your Honor want a steady Broad-Bottom'd Coachman to drive you; in bowing he has split his tight breeches. His nephew Temple is next him, then the spectacled Buckingham who says: We'll do any Thing; his son (Temple) adds and in any Way! [cf. No. 10721]. Close behind is the emaciated Sidmouth, hat in hand and holding out a bottle labelled Cathartic; he says: Pray your Honor remember Doctor Slop! your Old Apothecary, who Physick'd the French! [see No. 9849]. Next him and nearer the spectator stands Whitbread, dressed as a porter, and mopping his head. His porter's knot is on the ground, inscribed: Saml Froth his Knot--Carries any Weight in any Weather. He supports against his knees a huge rectangular pile of Motions to be brought in the House of Commons. These are inscribed: Motion against Royal Family [cf. No. 11234]; Motion against the Ministry; against the War; against y Judges; against the Church; against Magna Charta; Motion against. He says: If his Honor wants an Honest Porter, I'm his Man! Behind him and on the extreme left Lord Henry Petty capers to a dancing-master's kit which he plays with his fingers; he asks: Does his Honor want a Fidler to play a Jig [see No, 10589]. Behind Petty and Whitbread are two men dressed as chairmen with straps across the shoulder: one is Grattan; the other (?) Ponsonby, asks: Does his Honor want a pair of Irish Chairmen to carry his Honor clean through the Mud? Behind these and in the doorway (left) is a group of three: Cobbett, holding up his hat and a sheaf of Cobbett Political Register, says: Does his Honor want a Patriotic Reformer? Burdett asks: Does his Honor want a Partner in Business!--ask him Townsend. Townsend, the Bow Street officer, holding up his constable's staff, faces the group, saying sternly: Out with you & be damn'd; from the back of his head a label floats towards the Grenvilles: Take care of your Pockets--Gentlemen Broad bottoms. Horne Tooke says: I'm not Bill Soanes [see No. 10708]. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Old English gentleman pestered by servants wanting places
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bedford, John Russell,--Duke of,--1766-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos,--Duke of,--1776-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville,--Marquess of,--1753-1813--Caricatures and cartoons., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Canning, George,--1770-1827--Caricatures and cartoons., Castlereagh, Robert Stewart,--Viscount,--1769-1822--Caricatures and cartoons., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., George--III,--King of Great Britain,--1738-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Grattan, Henry,--1746-1820--Caricatures and cartoons., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings,--Marquess of,--1754-1826--Caricatures and cartoons., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice,--Marquess of,--1780-1863--Caricatures and cartoons., Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson,--Earl of,--1770-1828--Caricatures and cartoons., Norfolk, Charles Howard,--Duke of,--1746-1815--Caricatures and cartoons., Perceval, Spencer,--1762-1812--Caricatures and cartoons., Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck,--Duke of,--1738-1809--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Sidmouth, Henry Addington,--Viscount,--1757-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Spencer, George John Spencer,--Earl,--1758-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., St. Vincent, John Jervis,--Viscount,--1735-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Tierney, George,--1761-1830--Caricatures and cartoons., Tooke, John Horne,--1736-1812--Caricatures and cartoons., Whitbread, Samuel,--1764-1815--Caricatures and cartoons., and Windham, William,--1750-1810--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The Tower of Babel is represented by a vast pile of bundles of documents tied by tricolour ribbon, culminating in the allegations of Mrs. Clarke against the Duke of York. It is being destroyed by the Speaker, Abbot, who swoops down upon it from a cloud with uplifted and irradiated mace, and holding up a long scroll: Justice Triumphant-- Decisions of the Rt Honble The House of Commons--Majority against the Evidence of a Prostitute--Majority against the Machinations of Republicans & Levellers--. The tower totters sideways under blasts from the mouths of Canning, Castlereagh, and (below) Perceval, who lean forward from clouds on the left of the design. Between the two clouds appears part of a curving band, on which is a sign of the Zodiac, the Scales, evenly balanced to show that they are an emblem of Justice (cf. No. 10972). The leaders of the 'Republicans' fall headlong from the tower (right) as it topples, and are also struck down by a copious stream of water from the sky inscribed Royal-Water-Spout. Mrs. Clarke receives its full impact. She is astride the shoulders of Wardle who is falling downwards from the summit. Her large muff (see No. 11225), inscribed Mrs A. Clarke's Old Conjuring Muff, To be sold to the best Bidder, flies from her hand. In her hair are the serpents of Discord. To her belt of Ingratitude is attached a bag of Plunder. Wardle wears regimentals; in his pocket is a paper: Wardle Private Reas[ons]. Just below him Lord Folkestone is falling; he drops Patriotic Harangues by Fid Fad Folkstone and a large bundle of papers inscribed Motions for Kicking up a Row in the House of Commons. In his pocket are papers: Cobbetts Hints. Just below him is Whitbread who has fallen on a (falling) ladder, breaking it in half; he sprawls across the broken fragment, struck down by one of his own barrels, inscribed Barrel of Mischief. Its frothing contents pour over his head, inscribed Quassia [see No. 10574], Cocus Indicus, Opium [see No. 10795]; the falling barrel-head is Whitbreads Entire Butt [see No. 10421]. He drops a paper: Essay upon Political Brewing without Malt or Hops, and an open book: Political Divinity by Sam Froth--The Wicked shall be caught in the work of their own Hands. The ladder which he has broken is the Broad-Bottom Ladder of Ambition [cf. No. 10530]. The vast Lord Temple has broken the lower rungs and lies on his back, his legs in the air, the ladder on top of him. ..."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Three lines of quoted text following title: "And they said, go to, let us build to us a city and a tower, whose top may reach to heavens, and let us make us a name!" ... and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Abbot, Charles,--Baron Colchester,--1757-1829--Caricatures and cartoons., Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos,--Duke of,--1776-1839--Caricatures and cartoons., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Canning, George,--1770-1827--Caricatures and cartoons., Castlereagh, Robert Stewart,--Viscount,--1769-1822--Caricatures and cartoons., Clarke, Mary Anne Thompson,--1776-1852--Caricatures and cartoons., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice,--Marquess of,--1780-1863--Caricatures and cartoons., Perceval, Spencer,--1762-1812--Caricatures and cartoons., Radnor, William Pleydell-Bouverie,--Earl of,--1779-1869--Caricatures and cartoons., Tooke, John Horne,--1736-1812--Caricatures and cartoons., Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd,--1762?-1833--Caricatures and cartoons., and Whitbread, Samuel,--1764-1815--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Cobbett as a small boy, ragged but sturdy, eggs on a bull-dog which is mauling a cat. He has thrown to the ground tankards strung on a strap, and inscribed 'Jolly Farmer'; behind him lies his hat, filled with apples. A goose followed by goslings escapes to the right. Behind is a ramshackle thatched cottage, a country ale-house of the lowest grade with the sign on a tall post: 'The Olde Jolly Farmer of Farnham--Gaffer Cobbett'. From the doorway, closed by a half-door and serving as a window, old Cobbett looks out. He holds a frothing tankard, and grins approvingly at his son; his likeness to Cobbett shows his identity. An old woman, evidently Mrs. Cobbett, looks over his shoulder, clenching her fists angrily at the fate of the cat. On the door-posts are chequers, sign that ale is sold, and above the door: 'Goode Entertainment for Man and Beaste'. Under the thatch, in the gable, is a casement window with broken panes; on the wall is nailed a dead rat; there is also a bill headed by fighting-cocks: 'Cock Fighte--Farnham--Old Cobbett Feeder', Smoke rises from a broken cask, thrust into the thatch, and serving as a chimney. A wagoner in a smock, holding his whip, sits on a bench by the door, draining a jug. In a line with the ale-house is a latrine of dilapidated planks and of the roughest kind, by which a sow is rooting. Above it on a line hang a ragged shirt and stockings. Trees form a background with the top of a church spire."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: 1st plate. Father kept the sign of the Jolly-Farmer at Farnham. I was his pot boy and thought an ornament to the profession ... Vide, my own memoirs in the Political Register of 1809., First print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., Series number etched above image, in upper left., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Cobbett, dressed as a farmer, but with a favour in his hat and his short hair tied back into a scraggy tail, marches stiffly behind a recruiting Serjeant who marches with drawn sword, preceded by a little drummer-boy beating a large drum, both of whom wear plumed bearskins, smart uniform, and boots. They march with pointed toe; Cobbet follows, out of step, and with clumsily upturned toe; on his back is a rough knapsack. They march towards the sea where boats are being rowed out to a ship in full sail (right). Behind Cobbett (left) are his plough and two oxen. The field is neatly furrowed. Behind is a rocky hill on which stands a gibbet with an empty noose."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: 2d plate. As I shot up into a hobble-dehoy, I took to driving the plow for the benefit of mankind, which was always my prime object ... Vide, my own memoire's in the Political Register for 1809., Second print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., Series number etched above image, in upper left., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Cobbett, a burly and youthful corporal, stands with raised cane and clenched fist, having chastised two officers, older and much smaller than himself. One clutches his posterior, and runs off to the left, the other, losing his hat, throws up his arms, and a copy of a small book: 'Cobbetts Cards or new Military Tacticks'. Five others stand behind Cobbett, waiting for instruction, all studying his cards with perplexed and anxious intentness. Three are inscribed respectively: 'Cobbett's Military Cards'; 'How to Run away'; 'Eyes left'. One of them holds a furled Union flag inscribed 'Victoria'. In the foreground is an open dispatch-box, inscribed 'Wm Cobbett' and 'Cobbetts Military Movements'. Papers overflow on to the ground, inscribed: 'Cobbetts new Cards of Discipline', 'How to turn out Toes', 'How to Fart to ye Right', 'Eyes Right', 'To the Right', 'To the Le[ft]', 'How to march Forward', 'How to Run away', 'shoulder Musquet[s]'; 'How to shoulder Musquets', 'Left Right, how to hold up Heads', In the middle distance is a parade-ground: an officer is drilling his men with raised sword, while studying one of Cobbett's cards. They have a tricolour flag inscribed Loyal 51stt Regt L E Fi[tzgerald]. In the background are tents with tricolour flags, and tiny men marching. Behind again are mountains with pine-trees, and tiny Indians round a camp-fire."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: 3d Plate. Arrived in safety (according to the proverb), being a scholard (for all the world knows that I can read and write) I was promoted to the rank of a corporal ... Vide, my own memoir's in the Political Register of 1809., Series number etched above image, in upper left., Third print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Dundas, David,--Sir,--1735-1820., Fitzgerald, Edward,--Lord,--1763-1798., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Sergeant-Major Cobbett, helped by Corporal Bestland, furtively copies regimental documents in a room with a bolted door. Bestland, registering alarm, sits at the writing-table holding open a book, while Cobbett, facing him, stoops to write. The book is inscribed: 'Regimental Account of Provisions --Cloaths--Accoutrements. 51st Regt--Bread--Meat--Potatoes'. The room is lit by one candle. On the door is a placard: 'Regimental Orders. 51st Royal Regt--Ordered,--that none but trusty Persons shall have Access to the Regimental Books and Accounts--N.B. the Keys are left in the possession of Serjt Majr Cobbett'. Let into the wall above Cobbett's head is a cupboard or safe, the door open, the key in the lock. In it are books, five being inscribed 'Regimental Book', 'Army-Extraord[inaries]', '51st Regiment', 'Cash Account', 'Provision Acct'. Above this is an oval half-length portrait of 'Lord Edwd Fitzgerald', his head cut off by the upper margin (see No. 9227, &c). He holds a paper inscribed 'Rebellion', and the frame is fringed with daggers pointing outwards. Over the door is a trophy of crossed blunderbusses, with spear, firebrands, and a bonnet rouge supported on a dagger. Regimental muskets and pistols are ranged against the wall (right). Behind Cobbett is an open chest, 'Wm Cobbett's Private Box', filled with documents: 'Copies of the Regimental Accounts', 'Cuttings from the Regimental Books', 'Scraps for Court Martial', 'Stolen Documents for to make Grounds for Charges'. On the ground lies his tasselled cane. On a chair behind Bestland are books: 'Army Ac . . .', 'Pay-Office', 'Regimental Book--Cash account 51st Reg.--Wm Cobbett'. On the floor is a money-bag labelled 'for private use W. Cobbett', and inscribed '£200 Regimental Money 51st Regt'. Beside it are two large books: 'Extracts from the Regimental Accounts to be altered as Convenient--Willm Cobbett J Bestland', and, 'Robberies of the Mens Provisions-- Witness W. Cobbett J. Bestland'. On the table are ink-stand, seal, and sealing-wax."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: 4th plate. I was now made sarjeant major and clerk to the regiment, and there being only one man in it besides myself who could read or keep himself sober ... Vide, my own memoirs in the Political Register of 1809., Fourth print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., Series number etched above image, in upper left., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Cobbett, in civilian dress, stands full face, with his right hand on his breast; in his left he holds out a paper: 'Accusations agst Capn Powel & others'. On the carpet at his feet lie his regimental coat, bearskin, sword, belt, and (broken) cane. On the left and in back view Judge-Advocate Gould sits at a writing-table, pen in hand, averting his head from Cobbett, and putting out a protesting hand. Cobbett declaims: "--if my Accusation is without foundation the authors of cruelty have not yet devised the tortures I ought to endure; Hell itself, as painted by the most fiery bigot, is too mild a punishment for me!--See my own Letter to Sir Charles Gould--Judge Advocate General". Gould wears a legal wig and gown with military uniform. On his table are papers inscribed 'Court-Mart[ial] to be held. . . and Charges by W. Cobbett against Cap. Powel'. Behind Cobbett stands his shadow, a dark replica of himself standing out against flames and smoke which billow up before a brick wall with a rectangular aperture through which the Devil, wearing a bonnet rouge, thrusts his talons to seize Cobbett's shadow. Above this window into Hell are three balls and the words 'Beelzebub--Pawn-broker--The utmost Value for souls taken in Pawn'. Facing Gould are high shelves draped by a curtain and containing bundles of legal documents. Some are inscribed 'Trials for Ungentlemanly Conduct', 'Military L . . .', 'Court Martial upon . . .', 'Motion for a Court Martial', 'Trial of Cap . . .', 'Court Martial'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: 5th plate. My next step was to procure a discharge from my ever lamented associate the Lord Edw. Fitzgerald. With this I returned to England and directly set about ... Vide, my own memoirs in the Political Register, 1809., Fifth print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., Series number etched above image, in upper left., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Three officers stand stiffly at the bar at one end of a high panelled hall; through the open door behind them are seen steps leading to the Thames and one pillar of the south portico of Chelsea Hospital. Only the end of the long table (right) at which officers are seated is within the design, with four officers, two on each side, one holding a paper headed 'Charges'. A long label floats into the design from the right: 'Call William-Cobbett into Court, to make good his Charges!' An usher standing close to the accused, and looking through the wide doorway calls: "William Cobbett! William Cobbett!" Soldiers stand by the door, hat in hand, others are on the steps hailing a small boat with two occupants sailing across the river. One shouts: "Ho! William Cobbett". Cobbett, in the boat, shouts back: "Call away & be Damn'd--I'm off". Spectators, men and women, crowd the court; some are many rows deep on the farther side, some in a gallery over the wide-open doors. The heads and shoulders of others in back view in the foreground form a base to the design. Six men turn their heads in profile and Burdett and Derby are unmistakable. A head next Burdett resembles Wilberforce."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: Plate 6th. The court-martial was assembled at Chelsea as I requested, and Captn. Powele and the other accused persons were placed at the bar ... Vide, my own memoir's in the Political Register, 1809., Series number etched above image, in upper left., Sixth print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Derby, Edward Smith Stanley,--Earl of,--1752-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Cobbett (right) stands facing six men grouped at a round table who applaud the toast he gives: 'Damnation to the House of Brunswick' [cf. No. 11234]. In his left hand is a bottle of 'True Napoleone Spirits'; the contents of his raised glass are exploding. On his right sits Horne Tooke, with a crutch, holding a jug of 'Botley Ale' and a glass, both frothing. He says with a sinister upturned glance: 'Huzza! Huzza'. On Cobbett's left, and in back view, stands a naval officer wearing a cocked hat and high fashionable boots. He holds high a steaming bowl of 'Botley Grog'; under his foot is a paper: 'Basque Roads- Court Martial', showing that he is Cochrane, see No. 11326, &c. Facing Cobbett sit Bosville and Clifford. Bosville, silent, decrepit, and senile, grasps a bottle of 'Botley Ale' and holds a foaming glass; in his pocket is a 'Plan for a new Convention'. Clifford, brandy-faced, and with his barrister's wig awry, holds a bottle of 'French Brandy' and a brimming glass, saying "Huzza". Behind these two stand Burdett and Folkestone. Each holds up a frothing glass; Burdett waves his bonnet rouge and shouts "Huzza!-Huzza!" Folkestone echoes "Huzza!" In the foreground with his back to the table lies Wardle, very sick, clasping a bottle of 'Botley Ale', and vomiting over papers: 'Charges against the Duke of York' and 'Reform', see No. 11328, &c. A cat (left), with a collar inscribed 'Mrs Clarke', miaows at him (see No. 11216, &c). On the right are a tankard inscribed 'Whitbread's Small Beer', and a wine-cooler containing five bottles of 'Napolean Wine' [cf. No. 11004]. The floor is boarded, but under Cobbett's chair is a fringed carpet. The room is lit by candles set in branches which decorate the oval frame of a half-length portrait of 'Napoleone Le Grand'; he is in profile to the right, looking down at Cobbett and holding out a 'Cordon d'Honor'. The portrait is flanked by busts on brackets: 'Despard' [see No. 9969] with a noose round his neck, and 'Robespiere' with two daggers. On the table by Clifford are two more bottles of 'French' [Brandy], by Cochrane a bottle labelled (?) 'Coitaris', an overturned bottle, and a plate of 'Diables'. [Diable = a name given to the Toad-fish, Frog-fish, or Sea-Devil.] Empty bottles and a broken glass lie under the table."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: Plate 7th. I did not look behind me 'till I got to St Omer's & thence fled to America; here I offer'd to become a spy for the English ... See my own Memoires in [the] Political Register, 1809., Series number etched above image, in upper left., Seventh print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Clifford, Henry,--1768-1813--Caricatures and cartoons., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Dundonald, Thomas Cochrane,--Earl of,--1775-1860--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Napoleon--I,--Emperor of the French,--1769-1821--Caricatures and cartoons., Radnor, William Pleydell-Bouverie,--Earl of,--1779-1869--Caricatures and cartoons., Tooke, John Horne,--1736-1812--Caricatures and cartoons., and Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd,--1762?-1833--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Cobbett, surrounded by flames and beset by ghosts, starts back in his chair, overturning his writing-table and dropping his pen. Behind him and on his right is a black replica of himself (his shadow). Over this shadow's shoulder leans the Devil, naked except for a bonnet rouge, bending menacingly towards Cobbett. In the foreground (right) the head and shoulders, in back view, of Sir Charles Gould emerge from clouds, holding up a long scroll: 'the Forfieted Pledge--"my Black Soul I pledge to the Devil for the Truth of my Accusation Wm Cobbett--Witness . . . Goold Judge' [Advocate]. On the opposite side, surrounded by clouds, are the ghosts of three officers, with blank eyes, standing stiffly behind the bar over which hangs a paper: 'Court Martial Chelsea' [see No. 11377]. The centre figure declaims: 'Remember Powel', the others add: 'Hall' and 'Seton'. Just behind and to the right of Cobbett the arms of a woman holding the equally balanced scales and the flaming sword of 'Justice' emerge from flames. Her head is covered by a large scroll: 'the Groans of Hampshire with the Cries of Little Jessey and the Screams of his blasted Brandy-Faced Bitch of a Mother'. Behind the Devil, and partly concealed by a festooned curtain, is the wall of a pawnshop as in No. 11376, with the sign of three balls; over the doorway: 'Beelzebub Pawnb[roker] Nota Bene. Damag'd Souls taken in Pawn'. Four bat-like creatures fly away, upwards and to the left. Three have human heads and are Wardle, nearest to Cobbett, Burdett, and (?) Horne Tooke. From Cobbett's tilting table ink, pens, candle-sticks, and lighted candles fall to the ground, the candles setting fire to the many papers which have fallen and are falling: two copies of 'Cobbett's Political Register' are already blazing. Three other copies are still on the table, one inscribed: 'Cobbetts Register--The Hell-Fire-War in Spain--Oh damn Wellesley'. Other copies have titles referring to the tenor of actual and imaginary articles in the Register: 'Plan for to Hang up all the Public Robbers without Judge or Jury'; 'Hints on ye Rights of Napoleone the Great to the Throne of Great Britain'; 'The Jubilee--a Damned Ministerial Humbug upon the country'; Cobbett's Political Register--. . . Navy . . .'; 'Stupidity of the Whigs'; 'Bank Notes our Rum'; 'New Parliamentary Reform'; 'Necessity of a new Party'; 'Blasted Ignorance of Ministry'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Below image is printed a second plate etched with text only: Plate 8th. But alas, in the midst of my towering prospects while I was yet hesitating between a radical-reform & a revolution ... Vide, my own memoir's in the Political Register, 1809., Eighth print of eight in a series entitled: The life of William-Cobbett, written by himself., and Title etched below image.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Burdett, Francis,--1770-1844--Caricatures and cartoons., Cobbett, William,--1763-1835--Caricatures and cartoons., Gillray, James, 1756-1815, artist., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd,--1762?-1833--Caricatures and cartoons.