"Burke (left), a very thin 'lay porter', addresses Thurlow (right), who is very obese and holds in his left a heart inscribed 'Humanity', from which a piece has been broken. He is Father Paul in Sheridan's 'Duenna' (III. v). They face each other in profile. Burke is dressed as a monk (cf. BMSat 6026), a rosary with a cross inscribed 'Impeachment' hangs from his girdle. In his hand is a paper inscribed 'Account of expences attending a Trial. . . Esqr.' He says, "We ask no more than is needfull, and so little have we had, that we are almost starved". Thurlow answers, "It's false; you feast and Gormandize, whilst we are wasting". (The words are adapted from 'The Duenna'.) On his goblet, inscribed 'Pleasure', is a scene of persons being sabred, while a body hangs from a gibbet. Behind Burke and Thurlow is a curtain which cuts off part of the room. Above it (centre) is the top of a jewelled turban, as worn by Hastings in caricature, surmounted by feathers inscribed 'Treasury Warrants'. From it ascends vertically a sword to whose blade are attached horizontal bunches of leaves; from these hang four hats inscribed respectively 'Middlet[on]', 'Impey', 'Holt', 'Ben'. A man (? Burges) looks through the curtain at Burke; in his hand are two scrolls: 'Profus[ion]', 'Oeconomy'. On the wall (left) is a picture of a bull inscribed: 'Decided either way Poor John is sure to pay.' His blood gushes out in a copious fountain into a pit inscribed 'Private Defence', while from another wound it merely drips into a hole inscribed 'Public Prosecution'. The frame is inscribed 'John Bull. Paymaster'. On the right is a placard, inscribed 'Good Entertainment Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays' (cf. BMSats 7313, 7314) and surmounted by a crown."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Father Paul and the lay porter and Particular state of particular expences
Description:
Title from item., Text following title: Published according to act of parliament., Printmaker from Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum., Temporary local subject terms: Altered quotation from literature: Richard Brinsley's The Duenna, Act III -- Richard Brinsley: 1751-1816 -- Debate on expenses -- Pictures amplifying subject., and Mounted to 37 x 25 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd, as the act directs by W. Dent, May 26th, 1788 ; sold by W. Dickie, opposite Exeter change Strand & W. Morre, N. 48 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
"Hastings, in oriental dress, rides (right to left) a camel. He and the camel look down with dignified contempt at Burke (left), who fires a blunderbuss point-blank at the 'Shield of Honour' on Hastings's left arm. On the shield is a crown. Behind Hastings are Fox and North (right): Fox raises a dagger with burlesqued gestures and an expression of frenzied rage; North, very short and fat, clutches one of the bags behind Hastings inscribed 'Lacks Rupees added to the Revenue'; this is tied to another inscribed 'Rupees Do'. The three assailants are much caricatured and all wear armour; Burke, grotesquely thin and like some malignant insect, wears a Jesuit's biretta (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6026). He somewhat resembles the Don Quixote of British Museum Satires No. 7678, &c, cf. also British Museum Satires No. 7158; a wallet of 'Charges' is slung across his shoulder, bare feet project from the greaves which cover his legs. North wears his Garter ribbon over his armour, with a feathered helmet and top-boots. The point of a large sabre with a damaged blade projects through the tattered scabbard which is inscribed 'American Subjugation'. Fox wears the cloak of a conspirator over his armour (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6389, &c). Hastings (not caricatured) wears a jewelled turban, floating draperies, trousers, and slippers; his camel is heavily draped. On its back are bags, inscribed 'Saved to the Company' and 'Eastern Gems for the British Crown', with a rolled map, 'Territories acquired by W. Hastings'. The background is a mountainous landscape."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue of plate originally published with the imprint: Pubd. May 11th, 1786, by Willm. Holland, No. 66 Drury Lane. See British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Literary allusion through costume: Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote -- Alleged bribery of Hasting's supporters -- Decorated camels -- Hats -- Jesuit's biretta -- Guns: blunderbuss -- Damaged sabres -- Greaves -- India -- Banditti.
Publisher:
Published 1788 by Willm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford St.
Subject (Name):
Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
Subject (Topic):
Camels, Firearms, Turbans, Shields, Daggers & swords, and Armor