"A 'cit' smokes angrily over his glass, tilting his chair, while his pretty young wife sits with folded arms. A handsome young officer opens the door, apparently unseen by both. Below the design: 'Husband. - What makes you look so thoughtful my Love, what are you puzzling your Dear Head about now." Wife - Why you said last Night at Supper, that you knew every one in our Street were Cuckolds but one, - And I have been Puzzling Myself ever since to find out who that one could be." - "Husband.-" Oh! Oh! Very well, I have done."'"--British Museum online catalogue, description of a variant state
Description:
Title from item., Printmaker identified from the original drawing in the Huntington Library., From the Laurie & Whittle series of Drolls., Plate numbered '202' in lower right corner., and Temporary local subject terms: Young women -- Cuckolds -- Furnishings -- Furniture.
Publisher:
Published 10th October 1797 by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London
Subject (Topic):
Young adults, Women, Military officers, Adultery, Mirrors, Pipes (Smoking), and Chairs
"Ten ladies, arranged in two rows, with numbers referring to notes etched beneath the design, their proposed offices etched above their heads. ... '(1) First Lady of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer.' The 'Duc - ss of Gor-n' (Pitt's friend), wearing a tartan drapery, sits at a writing-table. Facing her, with outstretched right arm, is '(2) President of the Council and Duc-ss of Ric-nd.' '(3) Lady High Chancellor is the Coun-ss of Buc-s-e', very short and fat, in wig and gown and holding the purse of the Great Seal. Facing her is '(4) Chamberlain', who is 'Margr-ne of Ans-h', wearing a coronet and feathers, and holding a long wand of office. '(5) Mistress of the Horse' holding a whip is 'Lady Arc-r.' '(6) First Lady of the Admiralty' is 'Mrs Jo-n', with her arms folded, in profile to the right, as if playing the part of Priscilla Hoyden in 'The Romp', see British Museum Satires No. 6875, but wearing a naval cocked hat, emblem of her liaison with the Duke of Clarence, see British Museum Satires No. 9009. Facing her is '(7) Secretary of War & Capn of the Guards, La-y Wa-ce' (sister of No. 1); she wears a military cocked hat and coat with epaulettes, her hands placed truculently on her hips. (Her friendship with Dumouriez is perhaps hinted at.) '(8) Mistress of the Buck Hounds', is 'March-ss of Sa-ry', thin and weatherbeaten, holding two hounds on a leash, '(9) Ranger of Hyde Park', is 'La-y La-e' (wife of Sir John Lade) wearing a riding-habit and holding a riding-switch. '(10) Post Mistress General and Inspector of Mis-sent Letters' is 'La-y Je-y'. She sits at a round table on which are many letters and appliances for opening and re-sealing them, including a spirit-lamp inscribed 'Hot water'. She holds a lighted candle and peers through spectacles at a sealed letter."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Artist and printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Publisher's advertisement following imprint: ... folio's of caracatures [sic] lent out for the evening., and With illegible monogram, perhaps a collector's mark, written in brown ink in lower margin.
Publisher:
Pubd. Febry. 1st, 1797, by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly, corner of Sackville St. ...
Subject (Geographic):
England and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Gordon, Jane Gordon, Duchess of, 1748-1812, Richmond, Mary, Duchess of, 1740-1796, Buckinghamshire, Albinia Hobart, Countess of, 1738-1816, Craven, Elizabeth, 1750-1828, Archer, Sarah West, Lady, 1741-1801, Jordan, Dorothy, 1761-1816, Lady Wallace, -1803, Cecil, Mary Amelia, Marchioness of Salisbury, 1750-1835, Lade, Letitia, Lady, -1825, and Jersey, Frances Villiers, Countess of, 1753-1821