"John Bull as a Chinese, in Chinese costume, hugely corpulent sits full-face in an arm-chair, legs extended, hands resting on the sides of his paunch. He looks to three doctors on the left, the foremost being Grey, who leans towards him, pointing to his colleagues (left), and saying suavely, 'This deformity is quite inconsistent, believe me, with the Nature of your Constitution & therefore must be got rid of, I will undertake with your approbation, to remove it & my assistant Doctor Russell here will prepare you for the Operation'. Lord John Russell, on the extreme left, speaks confidentially to Althorp who is in back view: 'I once thought that a case of this description ought to be treated with great caution and even wrote as well as talked a great deal about it, but now I am quite of a different opinion I think there is nothing like cutting away thro' thick & thin!' J. B.: 'I ca'nt say that my bodily health was ever better, or that I ever felt stronger tho' to be sure I am not growing younger; but then every one is telling me how deformed I am grown of late & this tumour which I have had from my infancy is all a Mass of Corruption'. On the right and slightly farther from the picture-plane, the rival doctors, Peel and Wellington, are in consultation. The Duke: 'I say the Man has no defect in his Constitution & that what they call corruption is necessary to his existance--but now because he would not believe me, but choses rather to submit to the experiments of these rash operators --Wharnecliffe who is a sensible Man lays all the blame on me'. Peel: 'Yet I begin to think we could have done better, when we found him determined to think that his Constitution was impaired, to have tried--just in the way of soothing, a gentle alterative Course'."--British Museum online catalogue, description of a variant state
Alternative Title:
John Bull and the doctors
Description:
Title from text below image., Print signed with the monogram "HB," which was used by John Doyle., Variant state lacking C. Motte's printer statement in lower right. Cf. No. 16666 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 11., and Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Politics, British.
Publisher:
Published by Thos. McLean, 26, Haymarket
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England.
Subject (Name):
Hoo Loo, 1799-1831., Grey, Charles, 2nd Earl, 1764-1845, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, Russell, John Russell, Earl, 1792-1878, Spencer, John Charles Spencer, Earl, 1782-1845, and Wharncliffe, James Archibald Stuart-Wortley, Baron, 1776-1845.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, John Bull (Symbolic character), Tumors, Surgery, Politicians, and Obesity
"John Bull, fat and faint, lies back in an arm-chair with a deal table before him, left foot on cushion; he is in shirt and breeches. Round him are three doctors: Wellington (left), with the over-sleeve of a surgeon, holds a bayonet with which he is about to bleed the right arm over a bucket inscribed 'Pure British'. Peel (right), more insinuatingly, proffers a large bolus. Behind John's chair stands the King, saying, 'Patience Johnny'. Wellington, who wears blue frock-coat and white trousers, looks down at the patient through spectacles; he says: 'Come, Mr Bull, you are very plethoric--it is absolutely necessary that I phlebotomise you--you have a determination of blood to the head with strong symptoms of Choler!!!' Peel: 'Come, John, you must take this anodyne pill,--it will compose you "The ulcerous parts are only peel & skin I whilst deep corruption's mining all within" Pope' [sic]. On the table are a large pill-box inscribed 'Musket Balls', and a bottle labelled 'Black Dose Bitters' which stand on a paper: 'Prescription Taxation Decline of Trade National debt Want of Free Trade &c &c &c &c'. On the boarded floor is Wellington's syringe inscribed 'Injection of Injuries'. On the wall are a pair of pistols, 'Firing Irons', and a sabretache and bayonet inscribed respectively 'Pill Box' and 'Lancet'. J. B.'s dog (right) angrily befouls a chest inscribed 'Medecines Wise remedies Property Tax'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as John Phillips in the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1868,0808.9158., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Politics, British -- The Lancet.
Publisher:
Pub. March 8, 1830, by S. Gans, 15 Southampton St., Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830., Peel, Robert, 1788-1850., and Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Finance, Public, Property tax, Politicians, Physician and patient, Phlebotomy, Dogs, Costume, History, Hypodermic syringes, Pails, Bayonets, Handguns, and Urination
"On a grassy plateau projecting from a rocky mountain are Wellington, Peel, and an old woman, as doctor-accoucheur, apothecary, and nurse. Where mountain joins plateau there is a shallow cavity in which is a tiny mouse, 'Emancipation'. On the top of the mountain is a royal crown from which float the words: 'Its our Royal Will & pleasure to be delivered.' Wellington, in profile to the right, holds with silent concentration huge 'Ministerial Forceps'. The nurse sits on a low seat holding a spoon and a steaming bowl of 'Political Caudle'. A large open book against her knees, 'THE TIMES', and a large watch (indicating the clock device above the leading article) show that she personifies "The Times". She looks up at Wellington with bleary bonhomie, saying, 'Oh! the dear creature, how many will accompany it to Ireland, to spend thier money--no doubt Dublin will become more fashionable than Paris--now Doctor never mind the windy warfare of those Gentlemen above!' She refers to three "winds": heads issuing from clouds below the mountain-top, each inscribed 'Faction', which blow blasts towards the cavity where the mouse emerges. The centre and principal head is Eldon's; the one on the left says to the third: 'Blow away Wind-chelsea kill the Brat.' The third (Winchelsea) answers 'Aye, Aye, or Cripple it.' Peel, standing behind Wellington, holds up a big medicine-bottle; he says: 'I used to think that Paliatives were the right Medicine, but the Doctor has convinced me something more active is wanted.' In the foreground, standing just below the plateau, are the heads and shoulders of spectators. On the left are two frenzied bishops; one (? Howley) holds up a crozier to which is attached a little 'No Popery' flag; he bellows: 'Brethren, Brethren, Mother Church is in danger.' The other holds up a large mitre extinguisher-wise towards the mouse, shouting: 'Oh the imp, if we catch it we'll Burke it!' [see British Museum Satires No. 15707, &c.]. As a pendant to the bishops are two non-Anglican ministers. One, evidently Irving, in gown and bands, as in British Museum Satires No. 15658, stands with raised arms as if in the pulpit, declaiming, 'The Sword of the Lord, and of Gideon, peradventure we may destroy this fiend of Satan.' Beside him is a minister of lower status, with lank hair and a large 'Book of Faith' under his arm. He says: 'A beast of the bottomless Pit--a beast of the Seven Hills--a horned beast with fire and sword.' Facing him is a startled yokel who asks: 'Pray Sir what sort of a beast be it?' In the middle distance (left), behind the bishops, O'Connell, in wig and gown, stands on the side of the mountain, addressing a band of his followers just below him. They ask him questions, to each of which he answers 'Yes' with a bland gesture: [1] 'I say Dan, will Mancipation make the Prates grow?' [2] 'Dan, shall we get plenty of Whiskey?' [3] 'Will bogs breed Pigs & shall we all wear warm wigs & silk cloaks like you Dan?' On the opposite flank of the mountain (right), much higher up and on a smaller scale, stands Cumberland, in hussar uniform, with a handkerchief to his eye; he addresses a body of dismayed clerics, only one of whom is characterized: 'No doubt this will become a Popish Country, that is if they get the loaves & fishes.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Much ado about nothing
Description:
Title etched below image., Questionable attribution to Seymour from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Apothecaries -- Crowns -- Forceps -- Spoons -- Dishes -- Bowl -- Mice -- Croziers -- Popery -- Mitres -- Ministers -- Barristers' wigs -- Military Uniforms: Hussar's., Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Midwives and Accoucheurs -- British politics., and 1 print : etching ; plate mark 247 x 345 mm.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Thos. McLean, 26 Haymarket
Subject (Name):
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Winchilsea, George William Finch-Hatton, Earl of, 1791-1858, Howley, William, 1766-1848, Irving, Edward, 1792-1834, O'Connell, Daniel, 1775-1847, and Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, 1771-1851
Subject (Topic):
Clergy, Bishops, Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses, Clocks & watches, and Medicines