"Pitt steers a small boat, 'The Constitution', with a single sail, a Union pennant flying from the mast, through huge waves between a high rock (left) and a whirlpool whose circumference is an inverted crown which merges in the swirling water. He is in profile to the right, gazing fixedly at a castle on a promontory (right) among still waters, which flies a flag inscribed 'Haven of Public Happiness'. Britannia, a buxom young woman, sits in the boat, her hands raised in alarm, her head turned towards the rock, on the summit of which is a large bonnet-rouge with a tricolour cockade on a post within a ramshackle fence. Spray dashes against Scylla; beside the rock and in the foreground (left) three sharks with human heads closely pursue Pitt's boat: Sheridan, Fox, and Priestley (good profile portraits), their eyes fixed menacingly on the boat. They are: 'Sharks'; 'Dogs of Scylla'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Vessel of the Constitution steered clear of the Rock of Democracy and the Whirlpool of Arbitrary Power
Description:
Title etched below image., Caption below image, under the heads of Priestley, Fox and Sheridan: Sharks, dogs of Scylla., Sheet trimmed within plate mark on lower edge., and Temporary local subject terms: Flags: union pennant -- Constitution as a boat -- Boats -- Cap of liberty as bonnet rouge -- Allusion to the French Revolution -- Crowns: royal crown inverted as a whirlpool -- Cap of Liberty -- Symbols: tricolor cockades -- Allusion to Scylla abd Charybdis (Greek mythology) -- Literature: George Canning, 1770-1827, The Pilot that Weathered the Storm -- Waves -- Fortresses.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 8th, 1793 by H. Humphrey, N. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
One of many satires on the morganatic marriage of George IV and Mrs. Fitzherbert. on the left Mrs. Fitzherbert as Dido sits on a funeral pyre made up of phallic-shaped logs and watches the Prince of Wales sail away in a small boat whose flag is inscribed with the word 'Windsor' [Castle]. The wind which fills the ragged sail of the boat appears to be produced by a blast from the mouths of Dundas and Pitt, whose profile heads are on the extreme left. It is directed at Dido's head, and has blown off a royal crown, an orb and sceptre, and a coronet decorated with the Prince of Wales's feathers. With a tragic gesture she holds out in her right hand a mutilated crucifix. Her breast is bare and her girdle of 'Chastity' is broken. At her feet lie emblems of Popery: a sharp-toothed harrow inscribed 'For the conversion of Heretics', shackles, a pair of birch-rods, an axe, a scourge, and a rosary and crucifix. The pyre seems to be made of money-bags. The boat is the 'Honor'; the Prince is seated between Fox, who holds the tiller, and Burke, who holds the sail; his arms are folded and he looks over his shoulder at Fox, saying, "I never saw her in my Life". Fox echoes "No, never in all his Life, Damme"; Burke, wearing a Jesuit's biretta, says "Never", and North, who sits beside him, apparently asleep, says "No, never". After the title is engraved: 'Sic transit gloria Reginae' (pardoy of "Sic transit gloria mundi"). See British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Gillray in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and 1 print : etching with stipple, hand-colored, on laid paper ; sheet 274 x 371 mm.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 21st, 1787, by S.W. Fores, Piccadilly, London
Subject (Name):
Virgil., George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Fitzherbert, Maria Anne, 1756-1837, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811
"Dumouriez (right) sits in a gothic chair (reminiscent of the Coronation chair), at the royal dinner-table. Three cooks advance towards him, wearing bonnets-rouges with tricolour cockades, aprons, and over-sleeves. They are Fox, the foremost, proffering the steaming head of Pitt; at his belt, in place of a cook's knife, hangs a dagger. Sheridan, on Fox's left, proffers a dish on which steams a broken royal crown. On the extreme left Priestley enters in profile to the right, holding up a dish containing a mitre. The dishes have a garnish of frogs. All look with eager courtesy towards Dumouriez, who sits with famished expectancy, a dagger in one hand, a fork in the other. He is much caricatured, thin, and unshaven, with straggling hair and long pigtail. He wears a large feather-trimmed cocked hat, lace ruffles, a gold-laced and ragged military tunic, a tattered shirt over bare legs. His plate bears the royal arms; other gold plate is in the form of inverted coronets and of a Communion cup with the letters 'SIH' (reversed). Two spoons are decorated with the red hand of a baronet. These objects indicate that Dumouriez has come to overthrow the monarchy, the Church and hereditary rank. On the back of his gothic chair is a red cap of 'Libertas'. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in image., Text following title: Vide his own declaration, as printed by the Anti-levelling Societies., Dedication etched below image: To the worthy members of the Society at the Crown & Anchor ..., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Battles: Allusion to French defeat at Neerwinden, 18 March 1793 -- Cutlery: baronet's red hands on spoons -- Societies: Crown & Anchor -- Coronets: inverted coronets on sauce boats -- Furniture: Gothic chairs -- Male costume: bonnet rouge -- Male costume: cooks' clothing -- Emblems: tricolored cockades -- Mitres -- Crowns: broken crown -- Table settings -- Food: frogs -- Mats -- Emblems -- Cap of Liberty -- Dishes: royal gold -- Swords -- Sansculottes.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 30th, 1793 by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Dumouriez, Charles François Du Périer, 1739-1823, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, and Pitt, William, 1759-1806
"A large frothing tankard stands on a cask whose head forms the base of the design. From the froth Pitt emerges as Death on the White Horse (of Hanover, cf. BMSat 8691), giving the effect of a fantastic equestrian statue on a high pedestal. Pitt is in back view; in his right hand is a flaming sword, his left arm is raised, he turns his head slightly to the right, his right leg is extended; he wears his ordinary dress with heavily spurred top-boots. His head is the centre of rays on which his orders are inscribed, above it: 'Bella! \ Horrida \ Bella!' On the left are heavy clouds about to cover the sun, whose features indicate profound sleep; rays to the left are inscribed: 'Sun get thee to Bed! Myself will Light ye World' and 'Ho Rains! - Deluges! - Drown the Harvest!' Slanting rain descends in torrents from the clouds, battering down heads of wheat and obscuring a cottage in the background. On the right are the winds: four cherubs' heads blowing violent blasts in every direction, two of which are filled with swarms of insects. Rays to the right are inscribed: 'Pestiferous Winds! blast the fruits of the Earth!' and 'Ho! Flies! Grubs, Caterpillars! destroy the Hops!' The blasts strike hops twined round poles on the right of the design. On the tankard is a large '4' within a circle inscribed 'Pro-Bono-Ministero', and a small 'WP' with the Pitt crest of stork and anchor. On the cask a long lighted pipe inscribed 'Bellendenus' lies across a paper of tobacco inscribed : 'Ruin upon Ruin, or an Essay on the Ways & Means for supporting the cursed War.' ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Ministerial conjurations for supporting the war
Description:
Title etched below image., Four lines of text below title: "Four pence a pot for porter! Mercy upon us! Ah! its all owing to the war & the cursed ministry! ..." Vide, the doctor's reveries, every day after dinner., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Dishes: tankards -- Barrels -- Emblems: White Horse of Hanover -- Weapons: fiery sword -- Reference to influence of bad weather on harvest in 1799 -- War cries: Bella! Horrida bella! -- Emblems: Pitt's crest, stork & anchor -- Rain -- Reference to Dr. Samuel Parr (1747-1825) -- Reference to Parr's Preface to Bellendenus.
Publisher:
Publish'd Novr. 29th, 1799, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
"The 'Election-Troops', headed by Major Topham, advance towards the barred gate of the 'Treasury', behind which stands Pitt, holding a large key. He says, "I know nothing of you my Friends, Lord H------d pays all the expences himself - Hush! Hush! go to the back-Door in Great George Street under the Rose!" Topham holds out to Pitt a paper inscribed 'For Puffs & Squibs and for abusing opposition', in his right hand is a newspaper. 'The World' (see BMSat 7210, &c). Behind him is a dwarfish and ragged newsboy holding his horn, on his cap is the word 'Star' above a star. Under his arm is a copy of 'The Star' newspaper, in his right hand a paper inscribed 'For changing Sides; for hiring of Ballad Singers & Grub Street Writers. . .' . Next him is a publican holding a paper inscribed 'For Eating & Drink[ing] for Jack Ass Boys'. Behind these, three of the Foot Guards march together, each holding a paper inscribed 'For the attack in Bow Street' (see BMSat 7352); one holds a bayonet dripping with blood. Across the front of their caps is the word 'Hood'. A ragged and dwarfish cobbler holding a pair of shoes holds out a paper inscribed 'Far Voting 3 times'; he walks next two ballad-singers, one, fat, ragged, and pregnant, holds in her right hand a paper inscribed 'For Singing Ballads at 5 Skill pr Day . .', in her left hand is a sheaf of broadsides inscribed 'A begging we will go --- --- A new Song'. The woman next her holds a similar account; her hat is inscribed 'Hood'. On the extreme left is a sailor with a bludgeon who holds out a paper: 'For kicking up a Riot'. Next him is a burly and grinning negro (cf. BMSat 7367). Between these two and the cobbler a bearded Jew holds up in both hands a paper inscribed 'For Perjury & procuring Jew Voters'. Behind are the heads of the rest of the crowd; most wear election favours in their hats with the word 'Hood'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., "Price 1 s. 6.", Temporary local subject terms: Edward Thomas -- Reference to Horace Walpole -- Elections -- Military uniform of foot guards -- Naval uniform of sailors -- Negroes: Sailor with election favor in hat -- Newspapers: The World -- The Star., and Price mostly erased from sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. Augt. 14th, 1788, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Topham, Edward, 1751-1820, Great Britain. Parliament, and Great Britain. Treasury.
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1788, Political elections, Newspaper vendors, and Shoemakers
"A burlesqued illustration of the quotation from 'Paradise Lost' etched below the design ... In the upper left corner of the design, and in the background, an aged St. Peter holds open a small arched door, putting one of his three massive keys into the lock. The irradiated doorway is 'Popish Supremacy'; through it is seen a table, also irradiated, spread with loaves, fishes (cf. BMSat 10697), and wine. A golden staircase receding in perspective ascends in a curve to the door from the summit of the globe, on which 'Ireland' (the more conspicuous) and 'England' are marked. A procession of petitioners winds up the globe from the lower margin of the design; its leaders have begun to ascend the stairs but have been struck by three mighty blasts of wind. These issue from the mouths of Pitt, Hawkesbury (just below), and Sidmouth (considerably lower) Their profile heads emerge from dark clouds on the extreme left. The blasts have overthrown the leading petitioners: Grenville, in bishop's robes, staggers back with outstretched arms, his crozier and mitre fall, and the Catholic Petition blows from his hands, tattered by the wind, in a stream of 'popish' objects which slants upwards across the design. Immediately behind him, full face, the spectacled Buckingham staggers backward. He is dressed as a monk. In front of the two brothers Moira has fallen on his back on the third stair, kicking wildly, his upright l. leg expressing his characteristic stiff rigidity. He wears a surplice over regimentals and spurred boots, and his sword has broken. He has dropped the halter of the Irish bull on which sits Fox, dressed as a cardinal, the central figure of the design. The bull, snorting flames, rears violently, throwing Fox back into a horizontal position. Round its neck is a tricolour ribbon inscribed 'Order of St Patrick', from which hangs a medal with a profile of 'Buonaparte'; on its head is a bunch of shamrock. Fox is a Papal Legate; he is about to fall, and drops his triple cross to which is attached a tattered tricolour banner, inscribed 'Catholic Emancipa[tion']. His cardinal's hat flies off; from his left hand blows a document with many seals: 'Hierarchical Powers of ye Legate-Cardinal Volpone'. Mrs. Fitzherbert, a Mother Abbess, has fallen headlong from the stairs on to the globe. Her r. hand is on Ireland, resting on an open book: ' . . by the Brighton Abbess System of Education for the benefit of Protestant Children'; her left wrist is on England. Her crozier rests on the globe. Her robes, rent by the fall, display bare posteriors and fat, kicking legs, suggesting the connotation of 'abbess' and bawd, see BMSat 5184, &c. Moira has flung his left arm across her. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Four stanzas of verse below image, two on either side of title: "And now St. Peter at heav'n's wicket seems ..., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on upper and lower edges.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 17th, 1805, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Grattan, Henry, 1746-1820, Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, William IV, King of Great Britain, 1765-1837, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1766-1839, Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825, Spencer, George John Spencer, Earl, 1758-1834, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, and George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
"French men-of-war are tossed helplessly by huge waves, which are lashed to fury by blasts from the mouths of (left to right) Pitt, Dundas, Grenville, and Windham, whose heads emerge from clouds. Fox is the (realistic) figure-head of 'Le Révolutionaire' (right) which, with broken masts, is about to founder. He receives the full strength of the blasts from Pitt and Dundas, and looks up despairingly, his head against the tricolour stripes which encircle the mast. Playing-cards float in the water by the ship. On the left 'L'Egalité' is wrecked by a blast from Grenville, which shatters a flag-staff, with a flag inscribed 'Vive . . Egalité'. Behind, a vessel disappears in a whirlpool. In the foreground (left) 'The Revolutionary Jolly Boat' is being swamped under the influence of a blast from Windham; the occupants throw up their hands despairingly: Sheridan, standing in the stern, is still unsubmerged; the others (left to right) are Hall the Foxite apothecary, [So Wright and Evans. He has perhaps more resemblance to Dr. Towers.] Erskine, in wig and gown, M. A. Taylor, and Thelwall, washed overboard, with a paper: 'Thelwall's lectures' (see BMSat 8685). [Wright and Evans put Dr. Lawrence's name between that of Sheridan and Erskine; he is not depicted.]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Destruction of the French Armada
Description:
Title etched below image., Another signature etched in bottom right portion of image: Js. Gy. des. et f., Another publication line etched in lower left but mostly obscured within margin of image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Fleets: French fleet -- Storms: gale.
Publisher:
Pubd. Jany 20th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Thelwall, John, 1764-1834, and Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823
"The members of the Secret Committee of the Commons are seated round a table examining the documents relating to the United Irishmen and other revolutionary societies. A lamp on the table illuminates a large framed transparency [The transparency, a large pictorial design lit from behind, was a popular form of street illumination. On 5 Nov. 1813 (for the battle of Leipzig) Ackermann displayed on the façade of his 'Repository' Rowlandson's 'The Two Kings of terror, afterwards published as a print. Broadley, i. 338.] divided into four equal sections which hangs from the ceiling and conceals the heads of the Committee ; the four scenes depict the supposed intentions of the revolutionaries. The transparency is irradiated, throwing into deep shadow members of the Opposition in the foreground (right), who flee from the room in a body, terror-struck. The nearest (three-quarter length) are Erskine, clutching a brief-bag, Fox, M. A. Taylor, and Norfolk. Behind these are Tierney, Sheridan, and Nicholls; in the last row are Sir J. Sinclair, Burdett, Moira, Bedford. The two most prominent members, though in back view with heads obscured, suggest Pitt (left) and Dundas (right); they read papers inscribed 'Scheme to Overthrow the British Constitution, & to seize on all public Property and Invitation to the French Republic'. Over the edge of the table hang the bulky 'Reports of the Secret Committee of the House of Commons.' On the floor are four papers: 'Names of Traitors now sufferd to remain at large'; 'Oath of the Members of the Society of the United Irishmen in London'; 'Account of ye Lodge of United Englishmen, & of the Monks of St Ann's Shrine' [see BMSat 9217]; 'Proceedings of the London Corresponding Society with a list of all the Members.' [See BMSat 9189, &c] The transparency is suspended on tricolour ribbons. Titles are engraved on the frame: [1] 'Plundering the Bank'. A scene in the Rotunda; tiny figures hasten off with sacks of gold, the most prominent being Tierney with '£10000'. Sir William Pulteney (identified from his resemblance to BMSat 9212) staggers off to the left with two sacks; the poker-like Moira has a sack on his head; two men dispute over a sack, one being Walpole with his huge cocked hat, the other resembling Jekyll; Sheridan (right) slouches off with two sacks. Proletarians exult over small money-bags. [2] 'Assassinating the Parliament'. The interior of the House of Commons is realistically depicted; the Opposition violently attack the occupants of the Government benches, daggers being the chief weapon. Erskine (left) is about to murder Dundas; Fox strikes at Pitt, holding him by the throat, while Sheridan is about to stab Pitt in the back. The puny Walpole tries to drag the Speaker from his chair, while Burdett raises the mace to smite him. Sir John Sinclair raises a broadsword to smite a man held down by little M. A. Taylor. Volumes of 'Acts and Statutes' fall to the floor. [3] 'Seizing the Crown. \ Scene the Tower'. Exulting plunderers emerge from the gate of the Tower on to the drawbridge. Bedford, dressed as a jockey (cf. BMSat 9380), walks ahead with two sacks: 'New Coinage' and 'New Guineas'; Fox, [Identified by Grego as Lansdowne.] smiling, holds the crown; Lauderdale, wearing a kilt, carries the sceptre. Just behind is Sir George Shuckburgh. Stanhope (or Grattan) carries a sack, 'Regalia of E[ngland]'. On the right a chimney-sweep and others dance round a bonfire in which 'Records' are burning. Cf. BMSat 7354, where Fox carries off the crown from the Tower. [4] 'Establishing the French Government. \ St James s Palace'. French troops march with arrogant goose-step and fixed bayonets into the gateway of the palace; their large tricolour flag is inscribed 'Vive la Republique Français'. In the foreground is planted a tall spear surmounted by a bonnet-rouge (a tree of Liberty, cf. BMSat 9214, &c.); at its base are decollated heads wearing coronets and a mitre. They are cheered by spectators (right): Grattan holding 'Grattans Address', Norfolk holding his staff, Lord Derby in hunting-dress standing on an overturned sentry-box, Moira standing like a ramrod. ...."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Two lines of text below title: Representing the Secret-Committee throwing a light upon the dark sketches of a revolution found among the papers of the Jacobin societies lately apprehended ..., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. April 15th, 1799, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James Street, London
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Nicholls, John, 1745?-1832, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Sinclair, John, Sir, 1754-1835, Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, Jekyll, Joseph, 1754-1837, Walpole, George, 1761-1830, Pulteney, William, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Shuckburgh-Evelyn, George Augustus William, Sir, 1751-1804, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, and Grattan, Henry, 1746-1820
"A design in two compartments. On the left the triumph of Necker in a land of 'Freedom', in the other that of Pitt in a land of 'Slavery'. Necker (full face), seated in an armchair is carried on the shoulders of distinguished personages, who wave their hats. He holds in his right hand the staff and cap of 'Liberty', in his left a royal crown. He is stout and benevolent. Above his head floats a laurel wreath, irradiated, inscribed 'Necker', and adding a touch of absurdity. Under his feet are a chain and an instrument of torture resembling a harrow. The naval officer (left) wearing a star, -who holds one pole of the chair, is labelled 'Orleans'; his companion, in regimentals, is probably Lafayette; both wave their hats. In the background is a cheering crowd and the massive but broken stone wall of the 'Bastile'. On the right Pitt, lean and arrogant, stands in profile to the left on a royal crown which bends under his weight (as in BMSat 7478). In his right hand is a banner on which are instruments of torture: a narrow, shackles, and scourges; in his left hand, which rests on his hip, are a headsman's axe and chains, the other ends of which are attached to persons who kneel humbly behind him, the most prominent of whom is the King. Other chains are attached to artisans, &c, who kneel abjectly before him. In the background are (left) a gallows from which hang seven nooses, and (right) a high scaffold on which stands a headsman with an axe. From Pitt's pocket projects a large tobacco-pipe inscribed 'Excise'.."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
France, Britain, freedom, slavery and Freedom, slavery
Description:
Title from text in and below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Temporary local subject terms: Instruments of torture -- Cap of Liberty -- Staff of Liberty -- Transference of customs to excise -- Banners with instruments of torture -- Cheering crowds -- Laurel wreaths -- Chairing of Necker -- Kneeling slaves -- Emblems: pipe as tobacco tax -- Allusion to excise -- Crowns -- Gallows -- Bastille -- Executioners: headsman -- Artisans as slaves -- Emblems: slavery., and Watermark: countermark S. Lay.
Publisher:
Pubd. July 28th, 1789, by J. Aitken, Printseller, N. 14 Castle Street, Leicester Fields
Subject (Name):
Louis XVI, King of France, 1754-1793, Necker, Jacques, 1732-1804, Orléans, Louis Philippe Joseph, duc d', 1747-1793, Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, and Pitt, William, 1759-1806