"An election-procession marches (right to left) towards the hustings which are indicated by a corner of the pediment of St. Paul's Church and a crowd. A band of butchers, with marrow-bones and cleavers, heads the procession. Next walks the Duchess of Devonshire, holding up on a pole a pair of breeches inscribed 'Man of the People', and surmounted by a crowing cock. She is followed by a lady holding up on a pole a placard with 'Fox (a fox) and the Rights of the Commons'. A third lady holds up on a pole a mob-cap and apron inscribed 'No Tax on Maid Servants'. They are followed by sturdy-looking citizens wearing 'Fox' favours, one of whom carries a fourth standard: a key tied in a hoop and inscribed 'Key of the Back Stairs', [This emblem appears to have been first used on 14 Feb., during Fox's procession to Devonshire House (see British Museum Satires No. 6421, &c), when 'at Lord Temple's, a wag held up a flag tied to a stick, hung round with crape, which he called 'the Secret Influence Key in Mourning'. Full and Authentic Account of the Proceedings in Westminster Hall', 1784, pp. 26-7 n.] in allusion to the 'secret influence' which favoured Pitt, cf. British Museum Satires No. 6417. &c, 6557, 6592, 7139, 7325, 7339, 7372, 7634, 8102. House is seen between the first two ladies, waving his hat and wildly cheering the procession; other spectators do the same. See British Museum Satires No. 6475, &c. The Duchess is more characterized than her two companions, who are probably her sister Lady Duncannon and perhaps Mrs. Crewe, cf. British Museum Satires No. 6493, &c. All three wear the ostrich plumes and fox's brush which were worn as emblems of the Prince of Wales and of Fox."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue, with altered publication line, of a print originally issued with the imprint "London, Published April 30th, 1784, by G. Humphrey, No. 48 Long Acre." Cf. No. 6564 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6., Temporary local subject terms: Emblems: Prince of Wales's feathers -- Election standards -- Election emblems -- Electors' parade to the Hustings, Westminster, 1784 -- Marrowbones -- Cleavers -- Taxes: Proposed tax on maidservants, 1784 -- Key of the Back Stairs -- Election favors -- St. Paul's facade, Covent Garden., Watermark in center of sheet., and Mounted to 30 x 39 cm.
Publisher:
Published April 30th, 1784, by G. Humphrey, Printseller, & Dealer in Natural Curiosities, No. 48 Long Acre
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Bessborough, Henrietta Frances Spencer Ponsonby, Countess of, 1761-1821, Crewe, Frances Anne Greville Crewe, Lady, 1748-1818, Cavendish, Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire, 1757-1806, House, Samuel, -1785, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830., and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1784, Politics and government, Butchers, and Parades & processions
Charles Fox, in an armor and holding the "Shield of Truth," raises the sword of "Justice" to fight a many-headed monster representing William Pitt and his supporters. In the background, a party of armed "English" and "Irish" gathered under the "Standard of Universal Liberty" decorated with an image of Britannia, watches with approval. Behind the monster, four men representing foreign powers caper with joy around the "Standard of sedition."
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Reissue for the History of the Westminster election, 1784.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 11, 1784 by W. Humphrey, No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806. and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Elections, 1784, Britannia (Symbolic character), Political elections, Monsters, and Shields
In a cave with Westminster Bridge visible in the background at left, three witches stand around their cauldron, from which flames ascend, together with the heads of Fox, North, and Burke. The witches add other ingredients to the cauldron, including a paper marked rebellion, while one hag opens a sack from which emerge Thomas Erskine, and John Lee in the shape of a snake. An attack on the Coalition and the India Bill. Initials FN in lower right of image probably refer to Fox-North coalition
Alternative Title:
Birth of the plagues of England
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Printmaker and date from British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797., Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823., and Lee, John, 1733-1793.
William Pitt, acting as an auctioneer in the dissoluted Parliament, sells from the rostrum decorated with Royal Arms "useless valuables," such as "Magna Charta." Corwall, the Speaker sitting below the rostrum, records bids in the "Sundry acts." In front of him stands Thurlow in Chancellor's robes making dismissive comment on "nonsensical bidings of those common fellows," i.e. members of the House of Commons who leave through the door on the left. Last of them, Fox, turns back vowing to bid "with spirit" for lot 1, "rights of the people in 558 vol." held on display by Henry Dundas. A reference to the dissolution of the Parliament by the King on March 25.
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue for the History of the Westminster election, 1784, p. 48. See British Museum Catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark with partial loss of imprint., and Mounted to 30 x 41 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 26th by W. Humphrey No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806., Cornwall, Charles Wolfran, 1735-1789., and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Politics and government, Political elections, Auctions, and Clothing & dress