"Pitt, a colossal figure (cf. BMSat 8980), bestrides the Rotunda of the 'Bank of England'. His arms and legs are very thin, but his body is formed of a (transparent) sack distended with gold coins and inscribed '£'. His elbows are akimbo, his hands grasp the sides of the sack; from the little finger of his left hand hangs a key, 'Key of Public Property'. Round the mouth of the sack is a heavy chain clasped by a padlock inscribed 'Power of securing Public Credit'. From the sack emerges the pipe-like neck down which coins are passing. Pitt looks arrogantly to the right, a blast issues from his closed lips of many paper notes inscribed 'one'. Near his mouth are a few gold coins which he is presumably inhaling. He wears a crown formed of 'one' pound notes; through it project his ass's ears. The near side of the Rotunda is removed, showing a descending shower of paper and an ascending cluster of coins which are being drawn upwards to join those in the sack. Little figures in and around the rotunda, under Pitt's legs, hold up their hands in dismay at the shower of £1 notes. Among them is a John Bull wearing a smock. Two men hold papers inscribed 'Dividend'; a Jew walks off (left) with 'Scrip'. On the left, behind Pitt's right foot, is the sea-shore; large reeds at its edge blow towards him; among these are five heads wearing bonnets-rouges, each with a label issuing from his mouth: 'Midas has Ears'. They are Fox, Sheridan, Erskine, M. A. Taylor, and (?) Grey. They diminish in size from Fox to Taylor. Across the sea is 'Brest', from which a fleet is setting out. Behind it are black clouds, and an explosion rises from them in which are swarms of tiny figures holding daggers and wearing bonnets-rouges. This spreads behind Pitt's head who appears unconscious of it. He looks down towards three almost naked winged figures: Grenville (left) and Dundas (right) hold up between them a scroll: 'Prosperous state of British Finances. & the new Plan for diminishing the National Debt - with Hints on the increase of Commerce'. Between and above them is Windham, Secretary-at-War, a pen behind his ear. He waves his cocked hat, Grenville his coronet, and Dundas his Scots cap. Beneath the title: 'History of Midas, - The great Midas having dedicated himself to Bacchus [cf. BMSat 8651], obtained from that Deity, the Power of changing all he Touched - Apollo fixed Asses-Ears upon his head, for his Ignorance - & although he tried to hide his disgrace with a Regal Cap, yet the very Sedges which grew from the Mud of the Pactolus, whisper'd out his Infamy, whenever they were agitated by the Wind from the opposite Shore - Vide Ovid's Metamorposes.'"--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Midas transmuting all into paper
Description:
Title etched below image. 'Gold' in title scored through.
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Bank of England., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville,--Baron,--1759-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Taylor, Michael Angelo,--1757-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., and Windham, William,--1750-1810--Caricatures and cartoons.
"A design in an octagon enclosed within a square. Four headless women's figures, three-quarter length, emerge at right angles to each other from a centre surrounded by a wreath of cloud or smoke inscribed 'Thunder Lightning Wind Rain'. The neck of the figure rising vertically from the centre terminates in roses and is inscribed 'Gather your Rose-Buds while you may'. Projecting horizontally to the right is one terminating in bunches of grapes; another bunch below the waist is inscribed 'Nursery'. Facing downwards is a figure whose head is replaced by a smoking chimney-pot; she is 'Hot House'. The figure directed horizontally to the left terminates in primroses and is inscribed 'Two Bunches of Penny Primroses'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Nature displayed
Description:
Printmaker identified as Gillray in the British Museum catalogue. and Title from text in image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.
"Through the folding doors of the House of Commons rats are seen fleeing from the Opposition benches and leaping from the gallery above. In the foreground, scampering down steps leading to the lobby, are rats with human faces: Fox and 'Grey' (collar so inscribed) are first, followed by Sheridan and Erskine and little M. A. Taylor. The Speaker and the two Clerks look astounded. Pitt is speaking; he holds a paper: 'Rights of Parliamt'. Next him on the front bench sits the bulky Dundas in Highland dress, and next Dundas the tiny Wilberforce. These three, though on a small scale, are fully characterized. Behind them are the serried ranks of the Government, holding up their hands in astonishment, as do others in the gallery. A few members of the Opposition, not transformed into rats, stand behind the Speaker's chair (right). The wall of the House is damaged by rats, some of whom are escaping through holes they have made. On the wall beside the door (left) are bills: 'Virtue Triumphant or the Expulsion of Vice and Opposition Silenced.'"--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Opposition-rats leaving the House they have undermined
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Erskine, Thomas Erskine,--Baron,--1750-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Fox, Charles James,--1749-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Grey, Charles Grey,--Earl,--1764-1845--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., Melville, Henry Dundas,--Viscount,--1742-1811--Caricatures and cartoons., Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley,--1751-1816--Caricatures and cartoons., Taylor, Michael Angelo,--1757-1834--Caricatures and cartoons., and Wilberforce, William,--1759-1833--Caricatures and cartoons.
"An officer stands in back view, with his elbows akimbo, holding a small cane. He is thin and knock-kneed, with stick-like legs, his feet splayed outwards. He wears a plumed cocked hat, a sash round his small waist, spurred boots, and a sabre."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and William Frederick,--Duke of Gloucester,--1776-1834--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The 'Old Lady' is a thin old harridan, dressed entirely in 'One' pound notes, and seated on an iron-studded treasure-chest inscribed 'Bank of England', fastened by two heavy padlocks. She shrieks and throws up her skinny arms at Pitt's advances: he has taken a long stride towards her from the right, his right hand round her waist; his left dips into a cavernous pocket and takes out guineas. Their profiles almost touch, and he appears about to kiss her. She shrieks: "Murder! - murder! - Rape! - murder! - O you Villain! - what have I kept my Honor untainted so long, to have it broke up, by you at last ? - O murder! - Rape! - Ravishment! - Ruin! - Ruin! - Ruin!!!" Pitt's hat lies on the ground; beneath it is a scroll headed 'Loans'. A lightly sketched arc of the rotunda of the Bank forms a background."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Old lady of Threadneedle-Street in danger
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Pitt, William,--1759-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
"Three people sit at a round table playing push-pin. The Duke of Queensberry (right) leans on the table, pushing the pin. In his right hand is a double lorgnette over which he leers at his vis-à-vis, a very corpulent woman in a flowered dress who stares through spectacles at the pins. A younger woman, spinsterish and demure, watches the game with down-dropped eyes. Both wear hats. The chairs are decorated with ormolu, and on the back of Queensberry's is his crest (without the coronet): a heart between wings. The floor is carpeted."--British Museum online catalogue.
Description:
Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humprey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Queensbury, William Douglas,--Duke of,--1724-1811--Caricatures and cartoons.
"The stout Prince of Orange, in profile to the left, shuffles along the pavement, holding the arm of his thin secretary, Nassalin. His eye is almost closed, his right hand, holding a stick, is thrust in his coat pocket. Both are plainly dressed, wearing powdered hair with small tails, and round hats with broad brims. Nassalin is hunchbacked."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Pylades and Orestes
Description:
Title etched below image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, New Bond Street & St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and William--V,--Prince of Orange,--1748-1806--Caricatures and cartoons.
Eight lines of verse in two columns below title: Dear maiden, I feel it within ..., From a series of eleven plates entitled "Love in Caricature.", Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., One of six 'Lovers' prints published by Rowlandson in 1797, recorded in Grego in 1798., Temporary local subject terms: Couples., and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
Printed for Hooper & Wigstead, No. 212 High Holborn
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Hooper & Wigstead, publisher.
"Three grotesque and ill-matched soldiers charge rapidly and fiercely down the pavement. Their bayonets threaten three women who flee in terror, only legs, petticoats, and an upraised arm being visible on the extreme right. One soldier, very thin and ragged, wears a busby, the next, who is fat, wears a huge cocked hat with a damaged brim, the third, who is small, wears a peaked helmet with a spiky plume. The uniform coats with epaulettes are worn over frilled shirts and ragged breeches. Behind the three march others of the company, wearing busbies, and holding their muskets against their shoulders. In the background shop-windows are freely sketched."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
St. George's Volunteers charging the French after clearing the Ring in Hyde Park ...
Description:
Title etched below image; words 'the French' scored through and replaced with the words 'down Bond Street,' the latter being inserted above the line using a caret.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., and Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher.