"A 'conjuror' or magician displays to John Bull on a screen four scenes, one below the other, representing the expedition to Flushing. He wears a conical hat with a wide fur brim, and his magician's robe resembles that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, indicating Perceval; he holds a long staff or wand topped by a little head, that of Portland, grinning; it is labelled The Old One. John stoops to look through a telescope inscribed Patent directed at the screen, the vision on which is projected by a small dark-lantern held by Perceval. John is a yokel in a smock; beside him lies his cudgel inscribed Oak. He is highly delighted at what he sees, namely: [1] a fleet leaving England, tiny figures being indicated on the shore. [2] Ships bombarding and soldiers attacking a fortified town which is on fire. [3] The garrison of the town surrendering to British officers, with grenadiers drawn up at attention. A French officer holds out the keys of the town to Chatham, one of whose staff is in Highland uniform. Two tricolour flags are being laid down by fat Dutchmen in French uniforms. [4] British troops being landed from a man-of-war; wounded soldiers are being carried up the beach. John says: Zookers Measter Shewman that be a main foine sight sure enough, that will fright the Mounseers however Aye Aye they be at it. I think I can smell the Gonpowder, by Goles if they ha'nt done the Job! there's Mounseer and Mynheer on their Marrow-bones! but Dang it what have we got at the bottom here I be quite. Perceval interrupts: Stop! Stop! Mr Bull if you have got to the bottom of it I'll turn the Instrument for that part wont bear Magnyfieing. Canning (?), poorly characterized, as is Perceval, kneels (left), raising John's smock to take a money-bag from his pocket. He says: With your leave Johnny I'll take a little more money for the next shew of the Jubilee [see No. 11381]. A demon looks out from behind the curtain on which the 'Phantasmagoria' is projected; he laughs: He, He. The room is that of a quack, cf. No. 9611. A large crocodile is suspended from the roof, draped with a tricolour flag and labelled Caug [sic] in the Nile by Nelson [cf. No. 9250, &c.]. A bat (alive or stuffed) is also displayed. Perceval and John Bull stand within a circle surrounded by cabalistic signs and lit by a second dark-lantern which stands on the floor beside a celestial globe (left). Behind Canning and on the extreme left three small niches are recessed in the wall, one upon the other, in each of which is a skull; inscriptions: Conjuror Pitt (above), Katterfelto, and Conjuror Bute. They are: Curious Collection of Conjuros Capets [sic]. On a high shelf are documents: Way to raise the Wind; New Taxes; Proceedings in Spain and Portugal; Plan of an Expedition to Brobdignag; List of Killed and Wounded [torn]. A broadside is pinned to the wall. A soldier on two stumps for legs, supported on a crutch: Soldier Dick come from the War. On the ground (right) are two large bags filled with guineas inscribed Charmes. Beside them is a paper on which are circles and arrows."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Kings conjurors amusing John Bull
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker identified as Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Attributed to William Heath in the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1868,0808.7871., Text following title: They deal in destiny's dark counsels and sage opinions of the moon sells. Vide Hudibras., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill
Subject (Name):
Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Chatham, John Pitt, Earl of, 1756-1835, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Nelson, Horatio Nelson, Viscount, 1758-1805., Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Katterfelto, Gustavus, -1799., and Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792.
Subject (Topic):
Peninsular War, 1807-1814, John Bull (Symbolic character), Crocodiles, Curiosities & wonders, Dreaming, Magicians, Projectors, Robberies, and Ships
Leaf 30. Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Perceval, in back view, and in barrister's wig and gown, holds a magic lantern by which he displays the Pope in the guise of a ragged beggar, for the benefit of John Bull and the King. George III is seated on the throne and looks at the screen through a telescope held by Eldon, inscribed 'Ill-done's Patent Magnifying Papascope'. The King, much alarmed at what he sees, clutches the mace which Eldon holds, with the Purse of the Great Seal attached to it. Beside the King (right) stand a bishop in back view, and a man wearing academic cap and gown. Perceval' s lantern is inscribed 'Percev[al] Humbu[g]'. Canning stands in front of it; Castlereagh beside it, both pointing at John Bull, a yokel in a smock, who has fallen to the ground in terror at the lantern-display, guineas falling from his pocket. The figure on the screen is an old man with patched robes, two keys hanging from a girdle, a sack of 'Bulls' on his back. In place of his triple crown he wears three hats like a Jewish old clothes' man, and for a crosier he has a branching stick. Close to the screen and with his back to it, Portland sits on a block of stone (cf. British Museum Satires No. 10718), talking to Hawkesbury. On the stone is drawn a wig on a block with the inscription 'Retrospective View of Portland' [i.e. as a former Whig]. In the shadow, between and behind Canning and Castlereagh, stands Melville in Highland dress; on his sporran: 'Ex Privy' [Counsellor]. Three other figures are not characterized. In the foreground a dog, its collar inscribed 'John Bull', is biting the 'Union Bill 1800', where it is headed by an Irish harp; a fragment, with the Royal Arms, has been torn off. The dog befouls a 'Catholic Petition'. On the wall is a large playbill: 'Theatre Royal St Stephens By his Majesty's Servants Feby 1807 Horrid Tragedy of Raw Head and Bloody Bones in a Red Cloak Mesrs Percivall, Canning, H-b-y [Harrowby], Portland Castlereagh Wonderful Deceptions, Messrs Proteus & Ill-done.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? ...
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue., Four lines of verse in two columns below image: What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? A shadow thrown upon the wall, a magic-lanthorn-shew! that's all! Page 15., Artist identified as Samuel de Wilde in the British Museum catalogue., Plate from: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c. [London] : [Field & Tuer], [approximately 1868?], and On leaf 30 of: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Publisher:
Published by S. & H. Oddy, Oxford-Street, London and Field & Tuer
Subject (Name):
Restrike. For original issue of the plate, see no. 10962 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, and Harrowby, Dudley Ryder, Earl of, 1762-1847.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Projectors, Thrones, Telescopes, Ceremonial maces, Clergy, and Dogs
