"The Ministry defend 'The Citadel of Office' behind a high stone wall against different Opposition groups. The chief defence is by the tiny Perceval who fires a cannon from whose muzzle issue three heads intended for Wellesley, Ryder, and Melville. In the centre the wall is breached, and Eldon looks from the gap, weeping; behind him is the Woolsack, inscribed 'Wool'. Lord Grey, on tiptoe, reaches up to seize his gown, while he flourishes a paper: 'Report of Physicians 1804'. Erskine, quite bald and with his (former) Chancellor's gown over his arm, reaches up to tug at the Chancellor's wig. Seated on the wall at the lowest point of the breach is Yorke in back view; in his pocket is a 'List of my Friends Cambridge' [see No. 11535]. He hands down a large seal bearing an anchor to Whitbread who straddles a cask floating in water which adjoins the 'Citadel' on the right. Whitbread takes this emblem of the Admiralty, flourishing a tankard (cf. No. 10414). On the left of the breach Sir Vicary Gibbs, brandishing a rolled document inscribed 'Law of Libel', defends himself vigorously against Romilly, who drags at his gown and has a similar weapon inscribed 'New Statutes'. In Romilly's pocket is a paper: 'New Bankrupt Laws'. Farther to the left the three Grenvilles, Lord Temple, the Marquis of Buckingham, and Lord Grenville, level a battering-ram against the wall. The ram has a ram's head, as in heraldry, but with a human face, and is intended for Ponsonby, leader of the Opposition in the Commons. On one horn is spiked a paper: 'Catholic Emancipation'. Between them and Romilly, little Lord Lansdowne (Petty) sits on the ground squirting a large syringe over his shoulder at the wall. Next the ram Moira, stiff and aloof, holds up a fox with the head of Lord Holland (nephew and political heir of Fox), whose fore-paws, holding a paper of 'Resolutions', have reached the top of the wall but are caught in a trap. On the extreme left. Tierney bestrides a wooden horse whose hind-legs are broken off; it is inscribed 'Finance'. A bundle inscribed 'New Budget for 1811' is strapped to his back; he fires a pistol inscribed 'Bullion Report', but he is about to be thrown, so that the pistol points backwards over his head. Between Tierney and the wall are Burdett and Wardle. The former is flinging mud at the defenders, at Moira, and at Tierney. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Which has it?
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Plate from: The Scourge, or, Monthly expositor of imposture and folly. London: W. Jones, v. 1 ( March 1811), p. 175., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted to 28 x 41 cm., and Manuscript annotations on print and mount identifying place and figures.
Publisher:
Published for the Scourge, March 1st, 1811, by M. Jones, 5 Newgate Stt
Subject (Name):
Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Wellesley, Richard Wellesley, Marquess, 1760-1842, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Yorke, Charles Philip, 1764-1834, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, Gibbs, Vicary, Sir, 1751-1820, Romilly, Samuel, 1757-1818, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839, Ponsonby, George, 1755-1817, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd, 1762?-1833, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Canning, George, 1770-1827, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Fantastic insects (l.), with human heads assail a hive (r.) standing on a low and very solid wooden stand, the 'Treasury-Bench'; ministerial bees emerge to defend it. The apex of the hive is a royal crown from which sprout ears of straw. In the upper left. corner is the grotesque body of Sidmouth terminating in a clyster-pipe inscribed 'Clysteria Ministeria'; the wings are bottles inscribed 'Emetic' and 'Cathartic' [cf. BMSat 9849]. Above him flies the head of (?) Fitzpatrick between wings inscribed 'Hedge Lane' and 'Chick-lane' (London slums and resorts of prostitutes). An adjacent aquiline profile resembles George Hanger. Below, and to the right., is Lauderdale, his wings patterned with tartan. Above (r.) is Erskine, in barrister's wig and bands, both wings inscribed 'Protest'. Next (r.), Moira is supported on ostrich-feather wings, indicating the Prince of Wales (see, e.g., BMSat 10253). Immediately below him is Grattan, with a barbed tail, his wings inscribed 'Irish Emancipation' [cf. BMSat 10404]. Next, and in the forefront, is Grey, like a dragon-fly (and striped blue and buff), his four wings inscribed 'Vanity'. In the next row below are (l. to r.) Ellenborough with malevolent features framed in a judge's wig; Bedford, his wings inscribed 'Disappointment'; Sheridan, his bloated body patterned like Harlequin (cf. BMSat 9916, &c), his wings inscribed 'Stale Jests' and 'Joe Miller'. The huge Temple has wings made of sheets of paper, inscribed 'Stationary', 'Fools-Cap', 'Gilt Post', and 'Wax', 'Pens', 'Wafers' [see BMSat 10721, &c.]. He spits copiously at the defenders. Next is the age-worn profile of Grafton. In the row below are (l. to r.) Lord Holland, with wings inscribed 'Volponean Rancour' [as nephew and devoted pupil of Fox, cf. BMSat 9892] and 'Kalpinist [Hindu] Subtilty'. Next, Lord Spencer, his wings inscribed 'Cunning Policy', and (behind) the profile of Lord Carlisle. Next, and immediately below his son Temple, is Buckingham, in spectacles and Garter ribbon, directing a blast from his 'broad bottom' against the crown on the hive. His wings are 'Catholic Loyalty' and 'Catholic Gratitude'. Close to him is the distended body of Grenville, marked with an irradiated cross and puffing a curling cloud at the enemy. His wings are 'Envy' and 'Ambition'. The three Grenvilles, 'Broad-Bottoms' (see BMSat 10530) par excellence, are close together, and in the centre front of the attack. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Mounted to 31 x 43 cm., and Pencil notations by Mrs. Annie Burr Lewis identifying most of the caricatured persons on the left.
Publisher:
Publish'd May 2d, 1808, by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1766-1839, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Grattan, Henry, 1746-1820, Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Spencer, George John Spencer, Earl, 1758-1834, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825, Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, St. Vincent, John Jervis, Viscount, 1735-1823, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, and Rose, George, 1744-1818
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed mostly within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Seamstresses -- Cribs -- Washer tubs -- Crowns -- Bonnet rouge., Watermark: J Whatman., and Mounted to 31 x 42 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Thelwall, John, 1764-1834, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802, and Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839
"The rival candidates swarm up a pole, inscribed 'Westminster Election', in front of the hustings in Covent Garden. At the top is Burdett with the body and beak of a goose ... He is precariously poised on one webbed foot, the right leg. hanging down, dripping blood from a wound in the thigh (from Paull's bullet), but he is supported by a pitchfork held against his rightump by Horne Tooke, or the Devil, who stands astride the roof of the hustings. Tooke has webbed wings inscribed 'Deceit' and 'Sedition', cloven hoof and barbed tail, with round hat, coat, and clerical bands. Burdett's wings are 'Conceit' and 'Vanity'; his neck is stretched out towards an irradiated sun in the upper right. corner of the design, at which he is hissing, 'ssss [&c]' issuing from his beak. On the disk is a crown on a cushion; it is encircled by the words: 'The Sun of the Constitution'. Just below the goose is Cochrane, wearing the cocked hat and coat of a naval officer with striped seaman's trousers. He is active and agile, one hand on the pole, and one leg round it. In his right. hand he holds up a bludgeon: 'Reform', shouting fiercely to the mob below; his right. foot rests on the cask which encloses the paunchy body of the man below (Elliot), who is falling backwards. From his pocket issues a paper: 'Charges against St Vincent.' Below him legs and arms wildly outflung emerge from the cask which is inscribed 'Quassia' ... The head of the falling cask, inscribed 'Elliots Home Br[ewed], drops off, and its foaming contents pour down. Elliot drops a paper: 'Sixpenny Jack's Address'. Below Elliot, Sheridan, in his Harlequin suit (see BMSat 9916), enormously fat, grasps the pole with arms and legs, making no progress. Below him Paull falls head foremost and in back view to the ground; he is dressed as in BMSat 10725 and his (wounded) left leg breaks above the top-boot. He drops his shears and a cabbage. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Republican-goose at the top of the polle and Republican-goose at the top of the pole
Description:
Title etched below image., The second 'l' in 'polle' in alternative title is etched above the line, inserted into the word 'pole' using a caret., Text following title: Vide Mr. Paul's letter, article: Horne Tooke., Four lines of text below title: Also, an exact representation of Sawney McCockran flourishing the cudgel of naval reform ..., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 36.3 x 26.1 cm, on sheet 39 x 28.1 cm., and Price and identities of figures added in margin in Gillray's hand.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 20th, 1807, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. Jamess [sic] Street
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Paull, James, 1770-1808, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Dundonald, Thomas Cochrane, Earl of, 1775-1860, and Great Britain. Parliament
"A burlesqued illustration of the quotation from 'Paradise Lost' etched below the design ... In the upper left corner of the design, and in the background, an aged St. Peter holds open a small arched door, putting one of his three massive keys into the lock. The irradiated doorway is 'Popish Supremacy'; through it is seen a table, also irradiated, spread with loaves, fishes (cf. BMSat 10697), and wine. A golden staircase receding in perspective ascends in a curve to the door from the summit of the globe, on which 'Ireland' (the more conspicuous) and 'England' are marked. A procession of petitioners winds up the globe from the lower margin of the design; its leaders have begun to ascend the stairs but have been struck by three mighty blasts of wind. These issue from the mouths of Pitt, Hawkesbury (just below), and Sidmouth (considerably lower) Their profile heads emerge from dark clouds on the extreme left. The blasts have overthrown the leading petitioners: Grenville, in bishop's robes, staggers back with outstretched arms, his crozier and mitre fall, and the Catholic Petition blows from his hands, tattered by the wind, in a stream of 'popish' objects which slants upwards across the design. Immediately behind him, full face, the spectacled Buckingham staggers backward. He is dressed as a monk. In front of the two brothers Moira has fallen on his back on the third stair, kicking wildly, his upright l. leg expressing his characteristic stiff rigidity. He wears a surplice over regimentals and spurred boots, and his sword has broken. He has dropped the halter of the Irish bull on which sits Fox, dressed as a cardinal, the central figure of the design. The bull, snorting flames, rears violently, throwing Fox back into a horizontal position. Round its neck is a tricolour ribbon inscribed 'Order of St Patrick', from which hangs a medal with a profile of 'Buonaparte'; on its head is a bunch of shamrock. Fox is a Papal Legate; he is about to fall, and drops his triple cross to which is attached a tattered tricolour banner, inscribed 'Catholic Emancipa[tion']. His cardinal's hat flies off; from his left hand blows a document with many seals: 'Hierarchical Powers of ye Legate-Cardinal Volpone'. Mrs. Fitzherbert, a Mother Abbess, has fallen headlong from the stairs on to the globe. Her r. hand is on Ireland, resting on an open book: ' . . by the Brighton Abbess System of Education for the benefit of Protestant Children'; her left wrist is on England. Her crozier rests on the globe. Her robes, rent by the fall, display bare posteriors and fat, kicking legs, suggesting the connotation of 'abbess' and bawd, see BMSat 5184, &c. Moira has flung his left arm across her. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Four stanzas of verse below image, two on either side of title: "And now St. Peter at heav'n's wicket seems ..., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on upper and lower edges.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 17th, 1805, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Grattan, Henry, 1746-1820, Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1766-1839, Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825, Spencer, George John Spencer, Earl, 1758-1834, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, and George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
"The Foxites rise from their chairs at a club-meeting to sing the National Anthem in the manner of a catch, each repeating a different line. The chairman is Fox, who stands at the head of the table (l.) holding up a punch-bowl and ladle. He sings with upturned eyes, "God save great George our King". Sheridan and Norfolk are on his right. and left hand; both gaze at him intently; Norfolk sings "Long live our Noble King". Sheridan echoes "God save the King"; he holds up the music, inscribed with the same words. From his pocket hangs a playbill, only the words 'Vivant Rex et Regina' being visible. On the farther side of the table, next Norfolk, stands Moira, in regimentals, taller than the others and holding out his cocked hat. He says "Send him Victorious Happy and Glorious", and is followed by little Lord Derby, opposite, who stands with one foot on his chair, the other on the table, singing "Long to Reign over us \ God save the King." Lord Henry Petty, very small, leans against the back of Derby's chair, his right. arm round the waist of Erskine, who rests his left. arm on Petty's shoulder. Both wear their Chancellor's gowns, Erskine also his wig; the mace leans head downwards against his chair. They sing respectively: "O Lord our God arise" and "Scatter our Enimies". Opposite them stands Whitbread; he holds up a frothing tankard of 'Whitbre[ad's] Entire' [see BMSat 10421], singing "And make them Fall". On the extreme right., partly cut off by the margin, less ecstatic than the others, Grey [Identified by Miss Banks as Windham, but quite unlike him.] sings: "Confound their Politicks \ Frustrate their Knaveish tricks \ On thee our hopes we fix, God save us all." The Royal Arms decorate Fox's ornate armchair. From the back of Sheridan's overturned chair it appears that the other chairs are similarly decorated."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title engraved above image., Imprint, publication date, and artist from British Museum catalogue., Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed within plate mark resulting in loss of imprint and printmaker., and Mounted to 30 x 41 cm; ms. annotations in modern hand, identifying subjects in print.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 1805 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, and Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863
"John Bull, blind, maimed, and ragged, walks (right to left) near a chasm, the edge of which stretches across the foreground of the design. His wooden right arm terminates in a hook to which is attached a cord from the collar of a lean greyhound with the head of Pitt (as in BMSat 8794). Pitt drags him forward and slightly towards the gulf; in his mouth is a large bare bone, his collar is inscribed 'Licenc'd to Lead'. In John Bull's left hand is a staff, on his back a burden inscribed 'Loans'. He has a wooden leg, which a dog with the head of Sheridan and a collar inscribed 'Licenc'd to Bite' is biting savagely. Behind and on the extreme right is a dog with the head of Grey, and a collar inscribed 'Grey Hound'; he bites John Bull's coat. Fox, a mastiff with a fox's brush, stands behind Pitt, glaring fiercely, on his collar is 'Licenc'd to Bark'. Behind is grass and a tree (left) and in the distance the roofs and spires of London, showing St. Paul's."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull and his dog Faithful
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., A satire on a Dog Tax, April 1796., and Mounted to 31 x 46 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 20th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, and St. Paul's Cathedral (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Taxation of personal property, Artificial limbs, Blindness, Debt, Dogs, and People with disabilities
"Members of the new Ministry in a handsome room prepare themselves for office, each intent on his toilet. Both Fox and Grey look into a large pier-glass on the extreme left., whose frame is surmounted by the Royal Arms and Prince's feathers, indicating Carlton House and the Prince's 'ostentatious patronage' of the new Ministry. [W. Fitzpatrick, 'H.M.C., Dropmore MSS.' viii, p. viii.] Fox (Foreign Secretary), wearing a tattered shirt, shaves, holding a small bowl filled with lather. On a chair are the coat (blue with red facings, the Windsor uniform) and feathered cocked hat which he is about to put on; against it leans a sword with a jewelled hilt, while his discarded coat and bonnet rouge with tricolour cockade lie beneath it. Beside him stands the taller Grey, brushing his teeth. He wears naval uniform (as First Lord) Behind him, also in profile to the left., stands Sidmouth (Lord Privy Seal), his head and shoulders the centre of clouds of powder, which Vansittart is puffing at him from a powdering-bag. His Windsor uniform is protected by a long towel; in his coat pocket is a clyster-pipe (see BMSat 9849). In the foreground little Lord Henry Petty struts with pointed toe, delighted at the effect of his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown, which trails on the ground behind him, far too long. Windham (Secretary for War and Colonies), behind him, sits full face over a tub, washing his feet; he wears waistcoat and rolled-up shirt-sleeves; his hat and stockings are on the ground. Next is the centre figure, Lord Grenville (First Lord of the Treasury), in shirt and bag-wig, hitching up his breeches, and thus accentuating his heavy posteriors, which gave a second meaning to the term Broad-bottom Ministry (see BMSat 10530). Moira (Master of the Ordnance) stands stiffly with his back to the wall, tying his high black stock. He wears regimentals with boots and cocked hat. The Duke of Bedford, very neat in shirt and breeches, sits on a stool pulling on a top-boot, resting his leg on the left shoulder of Tierney, who sits at his feet, drawing on a Hessian boot. Both are in profile to the right., and are preparing for a journey to Ireland. Beside Bedford are two papers: 'New way of Improving the Irish-Breed of Black Cattle' and 'Road from Wooburn Farm to Ireland' [on this Tierney is sitting]. Behind Bedford, Sheridan struggles into a shirt; on the wall hangs his discarded Harlequin dress with mask and wooden sword (see BMSat 9916). Lord Spencer (Home Secretary), behind and on the r. of Sheridan, in waistcoat and shirt-sleeves, washes his hands in a basin on a table. On the extreme right. is the corner of a dressing-table, in the mirror of which Erskine delightedly adjusts his hat over his Chancellor's wig. He wears an enormously long Chancellor's gown with the Purse of the Great Seal hanging from his arm. Behind him on the wall hangs his discarded barrister's wig. The mace, reversed, leans against the table."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Etching based on Gillray print with same title published by H. Humphrey in 1806., Williams' copy after Gillray. Cf. No 10531, Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8, and Figures identified by ms. notes in modern hand located around perimeter of sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby., 1806 by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826
"Pitt, a colossal figure (cf. BMSat 8980), bestrides the Rotunda of the 'Bank of England'. His arms and legs are very thin, but his body is formed of a (transparent) sack distended with gold coins and inscribed '£'. His elbows are akimbo, his hands grasp the sides of the sack; from the little finger of his left hand hangs a key, 'Key of Public Property'. Round the mouth of the sack is a heavy chain clasped by a padlock inscribed 'Power of securing Public Credit'. From the sack emerges the pipe-like neck down which coins are passing. Pitt looks arrogantly to the right, a blast issues from his closed lips of many paper notes inscribed 'one'. Near his mouth are a few gold coins which he is presumably inhaling. He wears a crown formed of 'one' pound notes; through it project his ass's ears. The near side of the Rotunda is removed, showing a descending shower of paper and an ascending cluster of coins which are being drawn upwards to join those in the sack. Little figures in and around the rotunda, under Pitt's legs, hold up their hands in dismay at the shower of £1 notes. Among them is a John Bull wearing a smock. Two men hold papers inscribed 'Dividend'; a Jew walks off (left) with 'Scrip'. On the left, behind Pitt's right foot, is the sea-shore; large reeds at its edge blow towards him; among these are five heads wearing bonnets-rouges, each with a label issuing from his mouth: 'Midas has Ears'. They are Fox, Sheridan, Erskine, M. A. Taylor, and (?) Grey. They diminish in size from Fox to Taylor. Across the sea is 'Brest', from which a fleet is setting out. Behind it are black clouds, and an explosion rises from them in which are swarms of tiny figures holding daggers and wearing bonnets-rouges. This spreads behind Pitt's head who appears unconscious of it. He looks down towards three almost naked winged figures: Grenville (left) and Dundas (right) hold up between them a scroll: 'Prosperous state of British Finances. & the new Plan for diminishing the National Debt - with Hints on the increase of Commerce'. Between and above them is Windham, Secretary-at-War, a pen behind his ear. He waves his cocked hat, Grenville his coronet, and Dundas his Scots cap. Beneath the title: 'History of Midas, - The great Midas having dedicated himself to Bacchus [cf. BMSat 8651], obtained from that Deity, the Power of changing all he Touched - Apollo fixed Asses-Ears upon his head, for his Ignorance - & although he tried to hide his disgrace with a Regal Cap, yet the very Sedges which grew from the Mud of the Pactolus, whisper'd out his Infamy, whenever they were agitated by the Wind from the opposite Shore - Vide Ovid's Metamorposes.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Midas transmuting all into paper
Description:
Title etched below image. 'Gold' in title scored through., Three lines of text below title: History of Midas -- The great Midas having dedicated himself to Bacchus ..., Temporary local subject terms: Money: coins -- Bank notes -- Cupids -- Brest -- French fleet., and Mounted to 46 x 33 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 9th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, and Bank of England.
"Through the folding doors of the House of Commons rats are seen fleeing from the Opposition benches and leaping from the gallery above. In the foreground, scampering down steps leading to the lobby, are rats with human faces: Fox and 'Grey' (collar so inscribed) are first, followed by Sheridan and Erskine and little M. A. Taylor. The Speaker and the two Clerks look astounded. Pitt is speaking; he holds a paper: 'Rights of Parliamt'. Next him on the front bench sits the bulky Dundas in Highland dress, and next Dundas the tiny Wilberforce. These three, though on a small scale, are fully characterized. Behind them are the serried ranks of the Government, holding up their hands in astonishment, as do others in the gallery. A few members of the Opposition, not transformed into rats, stand behind the Speaker's chair (right). The wall of the House is damaged by rats, some of whom are escaping through holes they have made. On the wall beside the door (left) are bills: 'Virtue Triumphant or the Expulsion of Vice and Opposition Silenced.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Opposition-rats leaving the House they have undermined
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: House of Commons -- Opposition: members of the Opposition as rats -- Parliamentary reforms: reference to Grey's motion for reform -- Parliamentary secessions.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 28th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, and Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833