"Heading to a broadside printed in two columns. In a coop (right) are cocks and hens with human heads, the foreign witnesses against Queen Caroline. Sidmouth empties coins from a large green bag into their feeding trough, resting one foot on an apothecary's pestle and mortar. On the extreme left is a countryman in a smock who hands a letter to Castlereagh, saying: "Your Servent Sirs, I be com'd from a great fat Gentleman at W--d--r who wishes to know whether your Foreign Brood feeds well and if they are likely to pay for their keeping and he hopes, you'll keep a strict Eye over 'em and not let 'em take Flight as he understands they are very shy--and he says you shou'd look to their Plumage as he dont know but they may soon be made a Show of." Castlereagh, who holds a scourge, answers: "They thrive so fast they'll soon be fit for use--The Napoleons are more fattening than Caroline Rice but I'm rather afraid of that Rastellian Capon he seems to wish to peck his way out and be off--I'm afraid he's drank too much from the Po-Well as the water at present is rather Stagnated and now he's in good condition the Milan Springs [see British Museum Satires No. 13755, &c.] must be more palatable." Liverpool stands with a hand on Castlereagh's shoulder, silently holding a large purse inscribed 'Treasury Grain'. His back is to Sidmouth, who says: "True good C--r--gh I do declare they have Molted well already what a wonderful change--& if Brougham dont clip their Wings they'll amply repay us for our trouble for they can (according to the Old Proverb) Lie as fast as a Cock pecks Barley." Majocchi looks out through the bars, saying: "I am Cock of the Walk. If you wish more to know I'm the Infamous Segnior Non mi Ri cor do" [see British Museum Satires No. 13827]. Louise Demont looks up pertly: "Once Femme De Chambre To the Queen Now I support Sids Bag of Green [see British Museum Satires No. 13735] Doodle doo." Rastelli: "I think I've had too much good living--and as I've a great weight in my Chest a Complain [sic] incidental to Cotton Yard I'll take the earliest opportunity of leaving the Coop-- besides who knows but that Phisicians Brougham and Co. might prescribe Rue and other obnoxious drugs as a remedy for the Complain." ...."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Peep into Cotton Yard Aviary, with the peculiar method of feeding to suit a Royal palate
Description:
Title from letterpress text below image., Questionable attribution to Robert Cruikshank from the British Museum catalogue., Date of publication from the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark at top edge., Eight stanzas of verse in two columns beneath title, printed in letterpress: Most Noble Lords, cried G-e the Great, I have a cause of wond'rous weight ..., "Price one shilling. Entered at Stationers' Hall"--Below imprint., Publisher's advertisement at bottom of sheet: N.B. Just published, price sixpence, The cock of Cotton Walk, and the maid of all work., Watermark: J. Budgen 1819., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted on leaf 67 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Londondery [sic]," "Liverpool," and "Sidmouth" identified in ink below image; date "Aug. 1820" written beneath lower right corner of image. Typed extract of nine lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted beneath print.
Publisher:
Published by C.E. Pritchard, Islington Green
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Majocchi, Theodore, active 1820, Demont, Louisa, active 1814-1820, Rastelli, Giuseppe, active 1820, and Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778-1868.
"Folding frontispiece to "A Political Lecture on Heads, alias Blockheads!! A Characteristic Poem: . . .Drawn from Craniological Inspection, after the Manner of Doctors Gall and Spurzheim, of Vienna. By Don Juan Asmodeus. London. Printed for the Author, and Published by John Fairburn, 2, Broadway, Ludgate-Hill (Price One Shilling)." Ten half length caricature portraits arranged in two rows, and, except for the last two, in separate compartments, each illustrating a section of the verse-satire. The date is after Peterloo (16 August 1819), see British Museum Satires No. 13258, and before the King's death (29 Jan. 1820). [1] 'Derry-Down-Triangle', Castlereagh, with ass's ears, his head, adorned by a tiny gibbet, turned in profile to the left, holds up a scourge. On a scroll is the motto 'EIREN·GO·BRAY' (see British Museum Satires No. 13301). [2] 'State Jackal', Canning, directed to the left, holds a pistol in each hand. On his head is a triangle, bells hanging from its apex as from a fool's cap. Behind him is a package inscribed 'Lisbon 20.000 weight'. For his much-attacked mission to Lisbon see British Museum Satires No. 12872, for the duel with Castlereagh, British Museum Satires No. 11370, &c. [3] 'Quack Doctor' [cf. British Museum Satires No. 9849], Sidmouth, in profile to the left, holds a pike on which is speared a ball inscribed 'Circular Pills' [see British Museum Satires No. 13282, &c.]. On his head is a pestle and mortar inscribed 'Drugs for John Bull'. At his back is a large 'Bible' (like Liverpool he was an Evangelical). [4] 'Chancery Jack', the shoulders of Eldon, who scowls to the right, emerge from a 'Coal Tub' (as son of a Newcastle hoastman or coal-broker). He wears wig and gown, across his forehead is a bandage inscribed 'In Chancery'; from his mouth issues the word 'Equity'. [5] Liverpool, in profile to the left, spoons into his mouth liquid from a bowl of 'Water Gruel for the Poor' held in his left hand. On his head is a round tea-tray inscribed '£4.000'; on this are two cups and an urn inscribed 'Cordial Tea'. [6] 'Croaking-Frog--' Croker sits, pen in hand, in profile to the left; on his head is a frog. At his shoulder is a flag inscribed Dry . Rot . In . Navy' above two broken anchors. He says "Fal de Raltit," and before him is a paper: 'Talavira [sic] Algiers 2000'. He has an oddly shaped seat, resting his arm on a 'Quarterly Review', above a longer (curved) block inscribed 'Couriers'. (He was Secretary to the Admiralty, see British Museum Satires No. 12310, author of 'Talavera', a leading contributor to the 'Quarterly', and (with Arbuthnot) manager of the Press for the Ministry.) [7] 'Dunderass--' Lord Melville (First Lord of the Admiralty), in tartan, is in profile to the left, holding a pinch of snuff. Across his chest is a broad band: 'Pickings of Dad 60.000 [see British Museum Satires No. 10377, &c.] Place 10.000.' He wears a curious head-dress topped by a man-of-war surrounded by smoke. [8] 'Waterloo-Man--' Wellington, so styled by Hone, see British Museum Satires No. 13302, stands in profile to the left, wearing a cocked hat on which stands a cannon. He holds a dagger transfixing a bleeding heart; behind his back is a bundle inscribed 'Iquisition' [sic], across his chest is a placard: 'Coruption [sic] Prize . Money £60.000 Allowances £200.000 &c &c.' The text is a savage attack, e.g.: His soldiers 'sav'd the Spanish nation'; | Sav'd them--to send them to perdition | By 'Ferdinand's' crust [sic] 'Inquisition' [see British Museum Satires No. 13009] and (on Waterloo): The 'General' he'd not aught to do | But scenes of triumph to review [having lingered in Brussels]. For the campaign against pensions see British Museum Satires No. 12781, &c. [9 and 10] 'Chere-Amie', Lady Hertford in profile to the right, holds a sceptre and wears a crown-like coronet. She offers the Regent a large goblet of 'Noyau', saying, "Take another sup my Jewel. Grand-Lama--" The Regent leans back tipsily, his eyes almost closed. A little demon, holding a firebrand, flies towards him, flinging a noose at his head. See British Museum Satires No. 11853."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attribution to George and Robert Cruikshank from pencil annotation on the British Museum impression; see British Museum catalogue., Frontispiece to: Asmodeus, J. A political lecture on heads, alias blockheads!! A characteristic poem ... London : J. Fairburn, [1819], Approximate month of publication from the British Museum online catalogue, registration no.: 1865,1111.614., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 53 in volume 1 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and All figures except Lady Hertford (bottom row, second from the right) identified in ink beneath their respective caricatures. Typed key to the figures (with Lady Hertford misidentified as "Caroline") pasted above print.
Publisher:
John Fairburn
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Hertford, Isabella Anne Ingram-Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of, 1760-1834, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Croker, John Wilson, 1780-1857, Melville, Robert Saunders Dundas, Viscount, 1771-1851, and Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852