"Pitt as an alchemist, but dressed as usual, sits in his laboratory blowing a furnace with bellows formed of a royal crown. The furnace heats a large glass retort in which the House of Commons is being dissolved: the galleries are collapsing, the Speaker's chair is breaking, he and the clerks are asleep, the broken mace drops from the table, the books fly into the air and ascend with documents, &c, into the curving neck of the retort: 'Coke', 'Acts', 'Statutes', 'Rights of Parliament', 'Magna Charta', 'Bill of Rights', a cap of 'Libertas', the scales of Justice are flying upwards. The Ministerial members applaud; the Opposition are dismayed. Sheridan and Fox, though tiny, are conspicuous on the front bench. A stream of vapour issues from the mouth of the retort containing tiny grovelling figures of abject members who fill both sides of another House of Commons above and behind the alchemist's head, and prostrate themselves before a miniature Pitt, who sits on a throne which replaces the Speaker's chair, and is inscribed 'Perpetual Dictator'. He sits arrogantly, holding a sceptre; his legs are those of a bird of prey (cf. BMSat 7478), one foot is planted on 'Mag[na] C[harta]' and 'Acts of Parl[iament]'. His throne is surmounted by his crest, a stork holding an anchor, with the addition of a crown on the bird's head. A smaller retort on the extreme left, inscribed 'Aqua Regia', adds its vapour to that produced by Pitt. (Aqua Regia, used punningly, with a double meaning, is a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids which converts metals, even gold, into chlorides.) Pitt (the Alchemist) and the figures he is evoking, as well as the ministerialists in the dissolving House, wear the blue coat with red facings of the Windsor uniform. He sits in profile to the right on the model of a high rectangular building, 'a bastille', having a row of windows on the top story only; it is a 'Model of the new Barracks'. From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Receipe - Antidotus Republica'. On the right of the circular furnace is a coal-scuttle, inscribed 'Treasury Cole' (cf. BMSat 6213), and overflowing with guineas. On the other side is a pestle and mortar in which is Britannia's shield, about to be broken up. From the roof hang emblems of nefarious wizardry: a crocodile, a headsman's axe, a scorpion, a bull's head, a locust (cf. BMSat 8669), an asp issuing from an egg, a bat. On the wall are three rows of large jars, some with inscriptions: 'Ointment of Caterpillars' (beside Pitt's head, cf. BMSat 8676), '[Univer]sal Panacea', 'Oil of Influence', 'Extract of British Blood', 'Spirit of Sal: Machiavel.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Alchymist producing an aetherial representation
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Parliament dissolutions -- Alchemists -- Allusion to Treasury -- Uniforms: Windsor uniform., and Watermark: J Whatman.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 21st, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Young grocer making palatable punch for his company
Description:
Title from caption below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Temporary local subject terms: Dishes: punch bowl decorated with burlesque arms -- Furniture: wall bracket -- Furniture: side table with carved guilt legs -- Food: sugar loaf with pictures of interior of House of Commons -- Constitutions: Pitt's Constitution, 1784 -- Livery companies -- Grocers' Company: freedom of, given to William Pitt on February 14, 1784 --Guns: as punch ladle -- Coalitions: defeat of Fox-North Coalition -- Arms: burlesque arms of the Grocers' Company -- Bottles -- Dissolution of House of Commons, 25 March, 1784 -- Allusion to George Temple -- Nugent-Grenville, Marquis of Buckingham, 1753-1813., and Countermark (letter 'V') right side of sheet.
Publisher:
Publish'd by S. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and Pitt, William, 1759-1806
"Two dogs with human faces hang from a gibbet inscribed 'not Paid for'; two others stand beneath, looking up at them with complacent triumph, these are 'To be Paid for'. The gibbet is formed of two uprights with a cross-bar. The pendent dogs who face each other in profile with expressions of despair are Sheridan (left) and Fox (right); their necks are linked by a chain. Fox has a fox's brush (as in BMSat 8796). He urinates upon Dundas who is immediately beneath him, facing Pitt. Dundas is a fat mongrel, Pitt a lean greyhound (as in BMSat 8797)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Ten lines of verse in two columns below title: New grievances so thickly come, and taxes fall so hard sir ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Taxes: allusion to the Dog Tax, April 1796 -- Gibbets., and Mounted to 48 x 34 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 12th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811
Temporary local subject terms: Duels: Pitt and Tierney, 27 May 1798 -- Weapons: pistols -- Gibbets -- Allusion to the execution of the highwayman Abershaw -- Putney Heath
Description:
Title from item., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Mounted to 30 x 40 cm.
Publisher:
Pub. by R. Newton, No. 13 Brydges St., Covent Garden
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Tierney, George, 1761-1830
Title from item., Printseller's announcement following publication statement: NB. Folios of caricatures lent out for the evening., Temporary local subject terms: Duels: Pitt & Tierney, May 27, 1798 -- Putney Heath -- Gibbets -- Birds: crows -- Allusion to the execution of highwayman Abershaw -- Guns: pistols -- Blunderbuss., and Watermark: E & C T Russell 1797.
Publisher:
Published by S.W. Fores, 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, and Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802
"Pitt puts the Coalition to flight. He stands on the left, having just discharged an arrow from his bow, which pierces Fox (right) in the Achilles tendon. He says: "Thus do I strive with heart and hand To drive Sedition from the Land." Fox, prostrate and massive, supports himself on his hands to look at Pitt, saying: "There is nought but a place or a pension that will ease The Strain that I've got in my tendon Achilles." Burke, behind Fox, rushes away from Pitt, his arms outstretched in terror, saying: "Before thy Arrows Pitt, I fly O D--n that word prolexity." North, between Burke and Pitt, also in flight but holding a sword and shield, says: "This curs'd eternal Coalition Has brought us to a rare Condition." Pitt has a quiver with arrows slung across his shoulder; he, North, and Burke wear contemporary dress; Fox wears a tunic, greaves, and sandals."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Coalitions: Fox, North, Burke -- Mythology: Paris -- Sedition: in reference to Coalition of 1785 -- Burke's prolixity reproved by Pitt, July 30, 1784 -- Male costume: Achilles -- Weapons -- Quivers.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany 7, 1785 by G. Wallis, Ludgate Hill
Subject (Name):
Achilles (Mythological character), Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and Pitt, William, 1759-1806
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Printmaker from similar print. Cf. British Museum catalogue no. 6387., Original publication statement burnished from the plate., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6., Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, 1713-1792 -- Personifications: Rumor blowing trumpet -- Brookes's Club, London -- Demon wearing tartan -- Charters -- East India Bill, 1783 -- Gambling: Dice and dice-box -- Crown -- Thistle -- Allusion to Fox-North Coalition, 1783 -- Satire on Pitt's ministry -- King's Prerogative -- Tax-receipt -- Signs: Sign-post -- 'Secret Influence'., and Watermark in center of sheet: J Whatman.
Publisher:
Pubd. 12 Apr. 1784 by H. Humphrey, No. 51 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, Duke of, 1735-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Nugent, Robert Craggs Nugent, Earl, 1702?-1788, Alvanley, Richard Pepper Arden, Baron, 1745-1804, and Kenyon, Lloyd Kenyon, Baron, 1732-1802
"Pitt is suspended by the neck from an irregular cross-bar formed of a label across the design containing the words 'May our heaven born minister be Supported from Above'. These words ascend from the mouths of Sheridan, crouching furtively, and Fox, standing, on the extreme left and right of the design. Both wear bonnets-rouges with tricolour cockades and have a conspiratorial air. Pitt's arms and legs are extended like those of a puppet; his head is turned in profile to the left, a cap is drawn over his eyes."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
May our heaven born minister be supported from above
Description:
Title from item., Temporary local subject terms: Executions -- Bonnets rouges -- Wigs: bag wigs., and Watermark: E & P 1794.
Publisher:
Pub. March 22, 1797, by S.W. Fores, Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Title engraved below image., Publication information from periodical for which the plate was etched., Plate from: London und Paris. Weimar: Im Verlage des Industrie-Comptoirs, 1800, v. 5, page 252., Reduced copy of a print of the same title by Cawse after Woodward, published by Hixon on 27 January 1800. See No. 9511 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 7., Numbered 'No. VII' in upper right corner., Temporary local subject terms: Interiors: House of Commons -- Opposition: return to Parliament., and Mounted to 29 x 34 cm.
Publisher:
Im Verlage des Industrie-Comptoirs
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, and Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,
"Pitt arrogantly bestrides the Speaker's chair, towering high above the galleries of the House. He plays cup (or rather spike) and ball with the globe, on which 'France' is disproportionately large, the British Isles small and obscure. His head is turned to the left towards his own followers, who crowd obsequiously towards his huge right foot which rests on the head of Wilberforce (papers inscribed 'Slave Trade' issuing from his pocket) and on the shoulder of the bulky and truculent Dundas, who wears Highland dress. Canning (the 'Trial of Betty Canning' projecting from his pocket) kneels to kiss the toe of his shoe. His left foot crushes the leaders of the Opposition: Erskine, Sheridan, Fox (all prostrate), and a fourth (? Grey) with upstretched arms. M. A. Taylor, a tiny figure, with the legs of a chicken (see BMSat 6777) and wearing a bonnet-rouge, sprawls on the floor near Fox. The rest of the party raise their arms in dismay. The Speaker (Addington) looks up (raising his hat), as do the Clerks. Pitt's coat-pockets bulge like sacks; in one (left) are papers: 'Volunteers, 200000 Seamen, 150000 Regulars, Militia'; the other is stuffed with guineas, on this his left hand rests, holding a paper 'Resources for supporting the War'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Parliamentary debates: House of Commons, 30 Dec. 1796 -- Reference to war with France -- Globes -- Games: cup and ball -- Reference to slave trade., and Mounted to 43 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jan. 21st, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, and Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833