"Fox, followed by Burke and Sheridan, hastily leaves a vaulted archway from which issue smoke and flames. George Hanger (left) runs in front, holding a burning firebrand; behind him is the White Tower in flames. Fox carries the crown which he partly conceals under his voluminous coat. Burke, dressed as a Jesuit (cf. BMSat 6026), holds the sceptre; he looks with satisfaction at Sheridan, who takes his arm. Sheridan holds the orb; in his hat is an election favour inscribed 'Townsend'. Hanger wears a cocked hat with an election favour, his military coat and tight breeches are in rags; under his arm is a sack labelled 'Unmill'd Coin'. Torn bills pasted on the wall behind Fox's head are inscribed 'the Westminster Election; for the Interest of Lord J. Townsd', and 'Leak's Pills'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Blood and Co. setting fire to the tower and stealing the crown and Blood and Company setting fire to the tower and stealing the crown
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Following imprint: Price 1 s., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to Lord John Townshend, 1757-1833 -- Allusion to Captain Mason, fl. 1671 -- Allusion to Thomas Blood, 1618?-1680 -- Tower of London -- Burning of White Tower -- Medical Signs: Pills -- Leake's -- Crowns -- Sceptres -- Orbs -- Election favours -- Attempted thievery: Blood and Mason, 1671 -- Perogatives: Fox's attempt to steal -- Torches: firebrand.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 26th, 1788, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, Townshend, John, Lord., and Great Britain. Parliament
Burke (centre) and Fox (right) raise above their heads cleavers and marrow-bones with which they appear about to smite a woman and child who have fallen to the ground. A man stoops, stretching out his hands in an attempt to protect them. George Hanger (left) stands holding up his cleaver in both hands, leaving no doubt that his intention is to strike. The attitude of Burke and Fox, though threatening, may indicate a vigorous performance of the traditional election music of the butchers
Alternative Title:
Freedom of election
Description:
Title etched below image. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1788, Axes, Butchers, Political elections, and Riots
"An election mob in which Townshend and his supporters, as butchers, are violently attacking the populace with cleavers and marrow-bones. They wear aprons with butchers' steels dangling from the waist. George Hanger (right), his hat decorated with three ostrich feathers and the coronet of the Prince of Wales, raises a cleaver in both hands and threatens two constables with staves who fall backwards, wounded or terrified. He is in violent action, one foot rests on the unconscious body of a sailor whose face is gashed and bleeding. In the sailor's hand is a flag with a ship and the words 'Royal Navy'; on this Townshend, who uses his marrow-bone and cleaver as a musical instrument, not as weapons, is trampling. Behind Hanger, Fox, climbing above the crowd, is violently smashing the sign of 'The King's Head' (a bust portrait of the King) which is over a door inscribed 'Martin'. In the foreground a woman half-lying on the ground tries to protect her screaming infant from a cleaver and bone brandished by Sheridan. On the extreme left Lord Derby attacks a kneeling sailor with a wooden leg. Behind Sheridan, Burke raises a cleaver in both hands, and behind him the Duke of Norfolk waves a flag inscribed 'Townsend and Liberty'. Behind is a dense crowd brandishing cleavers and bones, while others attempt to escape. On the right are houses inscribed 'James Str[eet]', the houses of Covent Garden are indicated on the left."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Text right of title: Price 1 s., and Mounted to 32 x 44 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. July [...]th. by H. Humphrey, New Bond St.
Subject (Geographic):
England and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Hanger, George, 1751?-1824, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Coleraine, George Hanger, Baron, 1751?-1824, and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1788, Axes, Butchers, Crowds, Political elections, Riots, Sailors, British, Signs (Notices), and Taverns (Inns)