"A low platform covered with roses extends almost across the design; from this bed new Ministers advancing from the left are ejecting the old. Roses are scattered on the floor. The central figure is the tall and handsome Castlereagh, author of the phrase, see British Museum satires No. 10558, &c. With a taut two-stringed bow in his left hand, a quiver on his shoulders, he strides across Grenville who is on his back on the bed, and takes 'Candle End[s] & Cheese Paring[s]' from a bag with which Windham tries to make off (see British Museum Satires No. 9735). He says: "I'd have you to know I've two strings to my Bow!! Down, Down, Down, Derry Down!!" [See British Museum satires No. 10426.] Behind him, Portland threatens Grenville (in his peer's robe) with a big block of 'Portland Stone' [see British Museum Satires No. 10718, &c.]. In front of Windham Rose steps forward from the bed to grasp a large rose on the floor: 'Treasurership of the Navy.' This Sheridan, in his Harlequin's suit (see British Museum Satires No. 9916), is crawling towards, saying, "Just got into my first Nap - how - Unfortunate - come Sir fat touch that however." Rose holds up a pair of bellows inscribed 'Sing old Rose & burn the Bellows'. Eldon, in Chancellor's wig and gown, strides from the bed on to the prostrate Erskine, seizing the Purse of the Great Seal, whose cord is still round the latter's arm. He raises the mace to strike the ex-Chancellor, whose wig has fallen off. Erskine says: "Be quiet I'll retire"; he holds a money-bag inscribed '4,000 Pr Anm' [see British Museum Satires No. 10714]. Lauderdale, wearing a plaid, is behind him on the ground. On the extreme left Canning, standing on the bed, holds up a massive club inscribed 'Bon Mots & Repartee by G C--g'; he stoops over Howick pointing at the 'Catholic Bill', which the latter holds. Howick steps from the bed, angrily looking up at Canning (his especial enemy, cf. British Museum Satires No. 10972), but, unlike his colleagues, not devoid of dignity. On the ground between Howick and Sheridan is Petty in his gown, one hand on his 'Budget', a small bag, the other on a sheaf of papers inscribed 'Ways & Means'. He says: "Bless me I wish I was safe in College I'd never have anything more to do with Taxes" [an allusion to his youth, and to the fact that he was M.P. for Cambridge]. In the background (right) are Moira in his cocked hat and Lord Temple who makes off rapidly."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Retaking the bed of roses by storm!!
Description:
Title etched below image., Attribution to Charles Williams and approximate date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Imperfect; sheet trimmed within plate mark with partial loss of title from bottom edge., and Mounted on linen and formerly sewn in an album, with only the holes remaining on the left edge.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Rose, George, 1744-1818, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, and Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Beds, Roses, Draperies, and Fighting
"Ministers recline on a large low platform, representing a magnificent state bed, which is completely covered with roses. It recedes in perspective from left to right. On the left is Fox, looking sourly over his left shoulder at his neighbour, Sheridan, to say: "This is the most uncomfortable bed I was ever on in my Life and not the least like a bed of Roses - Zound!! what a thorn is running into me - Oh that Bramble - Sherry my Dear how do you find it - ". Sheridan answers: "My dear Charley, I have not had a wink since I have been on it, - curse that Castle man what did he mean by his bed of roses - I am as sore from the tip of my Nose, to the tip of my Toe - as if I had been roling on a quick set-hedge - or stung to death by a swarm of bees at a Hampshire Farmers [an allusion to Cobbett's pen]". Behind Fox, and in profile to the left, Moira, in uniform, with cocked hat and jack-boots, sits up, very erect; he says: "What are Cannons or Bombs or clashing of swords, compared to the pain I endure." Windham, next Sheridan, registering melancholy, says: "I feel more uneasy than if the whole Volunteer force was upon me." Ellenborough, behind Sheridan and Windham, ill-temperedly puts his hand to his wig. Erskine, also in wig and gown, reclines as if exhausted, his eyes closed, his attitude characteristic of his notorious fainting in court (see British Museum Satires No. 7956). He and Grey (Lord Howick from 11 Apr.), who sits behind him, are in profile to the right; the latter says: "It is just such a bed, as I expected the late bungling bed makers would leave us." On the extreme right little Lord Henry Petty (wearing his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown) sits up, angrily holding above his head two handfuls of thorn-branches. He says: "I shall never have done clearing the brambles and Nettles from this Bed, my Budget would not hold one half of them." The low frame of the bed is carved and has a valance of fringed and festooned draperies. At the head are the Royal Arms; looped curtains are suspended above it."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., and Mounted on linen and formerly sewn in an album with only the holes remaining on left edge.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 1806 by Walker, 7 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822., and Cobbett, William, 1763-1835.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Beds, Roses, and Draperies
Dent, William, active 1783-1793, printmaker, publisher
Published / Created:
[January 1789]
Call Number:
789.01.00.02
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"A fox, wearing a coat, hangs in profile to the right from a very high gibbet. His large brush is inscribed 'Hereditary Right' (cf. British Museum Satires 7381); he is excreting, the ordure being inscribed 'Run my Mead'. Above the gibbet is a scroll: 'The Man of the People High in Office'. Three women caper delightedly round the foot of the gallows: Justice (with the head of Thurlow) (left), with her scales evenly balanced, but with her bandage pushed up so that she can see, and holding her sword against her shoulder, its blade inscribed 'Household' continued; she sings, "Let's joyful Dance and merry Sing". Britannia (right) sings "for Ch--l--y [Fox] is quite the thing"; her shield is inscribed 'No Peers No Pensions', an allusion to the Regency Restrictions. Her profile appears to be intended for that of Pitt. Liberty, with the head of Wilkes, squinting violently, who is between the other two, cries "Huzza". The cap of Liberty (on its staff) is inscribed with the City arms and the motto 'Address', in reference to the City address of thanks to Pitt and the Ministry for maintaining the right of Parliament in the establishment of a regency."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Date at end of imprint statement is illegible; date of publication from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Removed from backing with remnants of blue paper on verso.
Publisher:
Pub. by W. Dent and Sold by W. Moore, Oxford St.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Great Britain. Parliament., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Wilkes, John, 1725-1797, and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Regency, Politics and government, Gallows, Justice, and Liberty
In an outdoor setting, Lord North and Edmund Burke look down at Charles Fox who stands knee-deep in a hole in the ground. All are in mourning clothes. Fox expresses fear of remaining in "this terrible Pitt" forever. An angry North, stamping his foot, expresses disillusionment in their coalition, while a quiet Burke decides to disassociate himself from Fox
Alternative Title:
Fox in a pitt and Fox in a pit
Description:
Title from item., The word "Fox" appears in the form of a rebus., 1 print : etching ; plate mark 23.5 x 25.7 cm, on sheet 25.3 x 27.4 cm., On laid paper, hand-colored., Watermark., and A small pencil sketch of a head on verso.
Publisher:
Publish'd by E. Hedges, No. 92 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government and Mourning clothing & dress
In an outdoor setting, Lord North and Edmund Burke look down at Charles Fox who stands knee-deep in a hole in the ground. All are in mourning clothes. Fox expresses fear of remaining in "this terrible Pitt" forever. An angry North, stamping his foot, expresses disillusionment in their coalition, while a quiet Burke decides to disassociate himself from Fox
Alternative Title:
Fox in a pitt and Fox in a pit
Description:
Title from item., The word "Fox" appears in the form of a rebus., and Mounted to 28 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Publish'd by E. Hedges, No. 92 Cornhill
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government and Mourning clothing & dress
A fox runs away holding in its mouth the embroided bag with the Great Seal. Thurlow, in the Chancellor's robes leans out the window on the right crying, "stop thief." A reference to the theft of the Seal from the Chancellor's house on the eve of the dissolution of the Parliament, attributed to Charles Fox and his friends
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed mostly within plate mark., and Mounted to 29 x 38 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 25, 1784 by J Wallis N 16 Ludgate Street
Subject (Geographic):
England, London, Ormond Street., and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806. and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Streets, Politics and government, Foxes, and Robberies
Admiral Rodney is depicted receiving the submission of the defeated De Grasse after the Battle of the Saints, as English sailors bring ashore the spoils of war, and chagrined politicians Fox, Keppel, and the Duke of Richmond look on from the left, with Sandwich and North behind them. Contrasts the new ministry's hostility to the popular Rodney with the rewarding of the incompetent Keppel (Admiral "Lee-shore.").
Alternative Title:
Admiral lee-shore in the dumps
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and On left above design: Political characters & caracatures of 1782. No. 3.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 31st, 1782, by E. D'Achery, St. James's Street, London
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Grasse, François Joseph Paul de Grasse, comte de, 1722-1788, Rodney, George Brydges Rodney, Baron, 1719-1792, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786, and Richmond and Lennox, Charles Lennox, Duke of, 1735-1806
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, History, Naval, Admirals, French, British, Sailors, and Clothing & dress
Lord North, carrying a large sack labelled "budget, small beer, soap, tobacco, insurance, carriages, tea", references to his proposed taxes of 1782. The Devil stands behind helping support the sack, as North approaches an open window at which a fox (Charles James Fox) is standing
Description:
Title from item., Attributed to Colley in the British Museum catalogue., and Mounted to 30 x 37 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 10th, 1782 by W. Humphrey No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792. and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Economic conditions, Lifting & carrying, Devil, and Clothing & dress
Charles Fox, shown with webbed dark wings attached to his back, rises from flames. An unrolled scroll on the left reads, "a method to dethrone the King A.D. 1784." Below the image are etched lines from Milton's Paradise lost
Description:
Title from item., Publication date from British Museum catalogue., and Mounted to 37 x 28 cm.
A collection of James Sayers' prints, mostly political satires and caricatures, mounted on blue paper and assembled by an unknown collector; topics include, in addition to general political topics of the late 18th century, the Warren Hastings trial, the East India Company, and the French Revolution. Mostly black ink, with one in brown and one in blue. Prints were published by C. Bretherton, Ja. Bretherton, Thomas Cornell, and H. Humphrey
Description:
Title from spine., Bound in three quarter red morocco with spine title: Sayer's caricatures., and Accompanied by a typed list of titles bound in, with page numbers.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and France
Subject (Topic):
Politicians, Political satire, English, Politics and government, and History