"A stout and comely lady stands at the door of an ornamentally rustic cottage, shaking a cloth from which tiny officers leap out, holding money-bags. The cloth is inscribed in large letters 'Pin Money instead of Allowance'. She says: "This is a profitable Plan of his and pays me a Devilish deal better than he can, besides the Patronage!!" Five elderly officers of normal size (right) watch their pigmy rivals with consternation. One looks through his glass, saying, "To waste ones health in unwholesome Climates an then fail of promotion because we cannot fee ****** or Army Agents Agents.!!" Another says: "Mother Careys Chickens by - then we shall have a storm indeed!" A third exclaims: "What to spend our lives in the service of our Country, and to be thus degraded by a parcel of Boys!!" He has a wooden leg and a patch over one eye. Another had lost his right arm, and the group seem hardly fit for active service. The 'boys' wear fashionable crescent-shaped cocked hats with plumes, the others old-fashioned hats with cockade, loop, and button. Over the door is inscribed in large letters '... mus Cottage'. It has the ornamental Gothic windows with leaded panes and thatched roof of fashionable rusticity. Beside it is a weeping willow. Below the title: 'NB these Birds have lately been seen hovering about the Horse Guards'. Below the design: 'a Storm Finch, or stormy petterel (the Mother Careys Chickens of the Sailors). Procellaria Pelagica of Linnaeus. is seldom or never seen but in the great Ocean, and then when observed flying near a Ship, is the sure prognostication of a Storm, the analagy [sic] of effect has induced modern Naturalists to class these, with the Pelagica of Linnaeus, tho differing in plumage'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Imprint statement etched within upper portion of image., and Watermark: Ruse & Turners. Small tears along the right edge.
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 1808 by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827., Great Britain. Army, and Great Britain. Royal Navy
Subject (Topic):
Officers, Promotions, Recruiting, enlistment, etc, Military officers, British, Amputees, Dwellings, Doors & doorways, Eye patches, Mistresses, Peg legs, and Uniforms
"Heading to etched verses. Mrs. Clarke, seated on a dais, receives applicants for commissions who advance through a doorway (left). She sits on a drum, wearing a cocked hat and military sash over a white dress, and holds up a sword. A short fat soldier holds over her head a Union flag with the white horse of Hanover. Two soldiers stand at attention with fixed bayonets behind her, and a fat trumpeter blows his trumpet. Another Union flag, without the white horse, flies from the corner of the large dais. On the wall hangs a notice: 'Half-pay Commissions at Half Price for Ready Money'. The applicants press forward in a bunch, headed by a fat and gouty 'cit' hobbling on two sticks, behind whom is a chimneysweep. The first of three verses: 'Come all you brave Fellows who wish for Promotion. Wether Captain or Colonel or a General's your notion. A Warehouse I keep for the sale of Commissions, And our Prices you'll find will suit all conditions, You'll be treated with Honor if you secrecy mark Sir For my Master is Noble and I am his Clarke Sir, You'll be treated &c.' The last lines: 'But forget not the ready (Gold or Notes) for pray mark! My Master wants Money, & so does his Clarke. But forget not &c.' The verses are bordered by spears which serve as posts for plump purses, symmetrically attached to them."--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 Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Clarke, Mary Anne, 1776?-1852 and Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827.
Subject (Topic):
Political corruption, Soldiers, British, Flags, Podiums, Daggers & swords, Hats, Staffs (Sticks), and Chimney sweeps
"Mrs. Clarke stands before a large doorway inscribed Clark and Company. She wears a white short-sleeved dress with plumed cocked hat, gorget, and military sash, sword-belt and scabbard. The sword she holds over her head, saying, Now Gentlemen you had better be quick I have a few bargains to dispose of. as the partnership is disolving. She holds out a paper: List of Prices at Clark and Co's Warehouse--Majority--£900. Company --7oo. Lieutenancy 400. Through the doorway behind her are seen great stacks of papers in her 'warehouse'. These are labelled: Captains Commissions 500 each, Half-pay Commissions 200 each, Lieutenant, Colonel, Major, Cornet. On the wall is a notice: NB a sum wanted by way o Loan, terms to be seen within. On the right stands a man playing a fiddle, and saying with a sly smile, If you want de commission, you must give me de Note den I go play de Fiddle to de white petticoat. From his coat-pockets hang papers: Pay Sigr Cor[ri] for [word illegible] 200; and a piece of music: The Petticoat [see British Museum Satires No. 11220]. Beside him lies a large Note Book. Above his head hangs upside down a portrait: The Dukes Head; the upper part only of the Duke of York's profile is visible, defaced by a black mark, the rest of the picture being cut off by the upper margin of the design. On the left two military bandsmen play a drum and fife. One asks: What tune shall we play now Jack the Duke of Yorks Marck [sic]? Answer: No No lets play she's off with another."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Commission warehouse
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Imperfect; the word "York" at beginning of title has been erased from sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. February 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Clarke, Mary Anne, 1776?-1852 and Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827.
Subject (Topic):
Daggers & swords, Musicians, Violins, Drums (Musical instruments), Military bands, Military uniforms, British, Price lists, Warehouses, and Portraits