"Lady Hertford, seated regally on a small sofa, cuts locks from the head of the Regent who reclines against her knees, asleep. The locks already cut are on the ground inscribed respectively 'Sheridan', 'Norfolk', 'Moira', 'Holland', 'Erskine'. She is about to shear off one inscribed 'Grenville'; the last, 'Grey', is still on his head. The Prince, who is conventionally handsome, and wears uniform, holds a paper signed '[Gren]ville / Grey'; his garter, inscribed 'Honi so . . .', is loose, and his left hand hides the star on his breast. Lord Yarmouth (right) stands holding a guttering candle; he points to the uncut lock, saying, "Don't forget that lock laying [on] the shoulder its Grey dy'ye see!" In his pocket is a pamphlet: 'Art of Milling' [see British Museum Satires No. 11842]. To leave no doubt as to his identity, a basket of fish is beside him inscribed '[Y]armouth Herrings'. Lady Hertford is heavily handsome; a small crown, which might pass as a tiara decorates her head; one foot rests regally on a footstool. A pillar and drapery behind her suggest regal state. On the sofa beside her is a rolled document headed 'Road to Hertford from Pall Mall'. On the ground (left) are empty wine-bottles; on a book by the Prince's feet, 'Economy of Human Life', lies a broken bottle from which wine pours. Behind (left) stands Perceval in his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown, watching from behind a curtain which he holds aside; Castlereagh stands behind him, saying, "By Jasus, but she's as pretty a Barber as ever I clap't my eyes upon." Perceval answers: "Hush! Hush! you'l wake him before they are all cut."."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Delilah depriving Sampson of those locks in which consisted his strength
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed., and Album paper pasted over edge of plate at top.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 1812 by Walker and Knight, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834, Hertford, Francis Charles Seymour-Conway, Marquess of, 1777-1842, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823., Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834., Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815., Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840., Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826., Samson (Biblical judge), and Delilah (Biblical figure)
"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.