"Mrs. Clarke stands behind the bar of the House of Commons holding up a flower-pot-shaped vessel (the pan of a commode) inscribed Opposition Stink Box. In her right hand she holds up its lid: Cover of Infamy. From this 'box' issue flames, smoke, and fanged serpents which dart towards and obscure the Royal Arms above the Speaker's chair. The House is seen from the left so that only a corner of the front bench is visible on the Ministerial side of the House, while the Opposition benches with a corner of the gallery above form the greater part of the background (right). Members of the Government hold their noses in disgust while the Opposition listen with avid delight, and the back-benchers wave their hats ecstatically. Only three Ministerialists are characterized: (left to right) Castlereagh, wearing a cocked hat, Canning, Perceval. On the right the four in the front rows to the right of Mrs. Clarke and closest to her are Petty, clasping his hat, Whitbread and Burdett behind him, and (behind Whitbread) Sheridan. Wilberforce (?) stands, waving his hat, Windham is in the second row. The serpents issuing from the 'box' are Calumny, Lies, Ingratitude, Deceit, Revenge, Forgery, Perjury. The commode (left) stands open, cylindrical and ornate, inscribed: Broad Bottom Reservoir. Round it bundles of documents are heaped: Forged Letters & Forged Answers from the Duke; Forged Orders; Forged Appointments; Scheme to destroy the House of Brunswick [see British Museum Satires No. 11234]; Commissions & Appointments for Sale to the best Bidder, Agents to conduct the Sale--Frome, Sanden, Dowler, Kennet, Donnovan, Corri; Love Letters from Mr Waddle [Wardle], Mr Finnerty, Gen Clamering [Clavering], Mr Maltby, Major Hogan; Private Communications from his Excell. The Morrocco Ambassador; Prices of Commissions in the Army, A Clarke Secy; List of Mrs Clarkes Pension[s] £1000 . . . Mrs. Clarke's dress is approximately correct (cf. British Museum Satires No. 11225), but her (white) hat is coloured blue, the length of the veil is exaggerated; her (profile) features are made coarser and bolder, and a patch (signifying disreputability) is added to her cheek."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image. and Mounted on leaf 62 of volume 6 of 12.
Publisher:
Publishd. Feby. 22d, 1809, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Clarke, Mary Anne, 1776?-1852, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, and Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,
Subject (Topic):
Legislative bodies, Politicians, Mistresses, Scandals, Snakes, Washstands, and Documents
"Wardle in armour with plumed helmet and floating cloak attacks with sword and shield a hydra with seven heads, all in profile, each wearing an inscribed collar. The principal head is that of the Duke of York (a flattering portrait), wearing The Collar of Corruption. The others are Bowler, Clarke, O Meara, Master Carter [the smallest], Sandon, Dr Donovan [with a pen behind his ear]. A serpent lies beside the hydra. Behind is the mouth of a cave. Below the title: Bellva Multorum es Capitum!! vide Horace [Epistles, 1. i. 76]. ('Thou art the Beast of many heads.')"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet partially trimmed to plate mark on top edge., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; sheet 24.6 x 35 cm., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Watermark: E & P., and Mounted on verso of leaf 40 of volume 10 of 14 volumes.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 15th, 1809, by Thos. Tegg, No. 111 Cheapside
Subject (Name):
Frederick Augustus, Prince, Duke of York and Albany, 1763-1827, Clarke, Mary Anne Thompson, 1776-1852, and Wardle, Gwyllym Lloyd, 1762?-1833
