"The five chief members of the Cabinet sleep round a small round table on which are punch-bowl (decorated with the Royal Arms), bottles of 'Port' and 'Madeira', and glasses. Portland sits full face, above the others, in a Gothic chair, a crutch beside him, one gouty bandaged hand supported by his Garter ribbon; Hawkesbury (r.) leans against him in profile to the right. Perceval, in his Chancellor of the Exchequer's gown, sits on Portland's r., leaning on the table. Facing each other sit Castlereagh (l.) and Canning (r.), leaning back in their chairs. From the former's coat-pocket hangs a long scroll, resting on the floor, headed 'Defence of the Country. Mr Speaker.' It is covered with meaningless arrangements of letters which dwindle into illegibility: 'aaaa, ccccc, iiiii [&c.]'. At the end: 'Nine Hours & a half long'. On the back of his chair and against his head is poised a squalling cat; under its paws is a piece of music: 'Air by Catalani' [see BMSat 10792, &c.]. Manning's legs are stretched out on the back of Melville [Mulgrave in W. & E. The profile and a tartan plaid indicate Melville.] who lies face downwards under the table, clutching a bottle. In his pocket is a paper: 'Secret Correspondence from Copenhagen' [cf. BMSat 11564]. All register delight at their entrancing dreams. On the floor (r.) used (gold) plates are stacked, all inscribed 'Treasury'. Two rats nibble at them; beside them lies a 'Bill of Fare - 1st Course Loaves & Fishes - 2d Course Loaves & Fishes [&c., &c.]'. Empty bottles are scattered about. Clouds rise from Canning's head and float above the other sleepers, supporting their vision, which, framed in clouds, fills the upper part of the design. Britannia rides in a triumphal car shaped like a boat with the British Lion as figure-head. She holds a trident and an olive branch. Behind the car, chained to the axles, walks a dejected Napoleon. Behind him is a huge polar bear (Russia), muzzled, and on a chain. Last come three captive sovereigns, some of the 'gingerbread kings', see BMSat 10518. They are followed by a cheering crowd with a flag inscribed 'Britannia rules the World'. From the car flies a Union flag, honourably tattered. The car is drawn by a huge bull (John Bull), led by a sailor, who is preceded by soldiers, one beating a drum another blowing a trumpet. They are part of a crowd of tiny figures which is disappearing under the gate of the Tower of London, whose buildings, with cheering crowds, form a background to the triumphal procession."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Text following title: Vide, an afternoon nap after the fatigues of an official dinner., 1 print : etching on wove / laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark x cm, on sheet x cm., Watermark, partially trimmed: J. Whatman 1807., and Mounted on leaf 51 of volume 6 of 12.
Publisher:
Publish'd April 10th, 1808, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, and Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
"Britannia, terrified, faint, and dishevelled sits on the ground supported by Addington and Hawkesbury, and defended by Sheridan, a Silenus-like and ragged Harlequin. They are on the coast towards which are advancing many rowing-boats filled with little French soldiers. Napoleon stands with drawn sword in the foremost boat, a tiny figure with a large head and no body, to show that he is Nobody, as in BMSat 5570, &c. The distant French coast (right) is covered with troops marching towards the shore. Clouds of smoke rise from the beach, which is concealed by the foreground. Britannia, wearing Roman dress with cothurnes, raises her arms, and shrieks (parodying Hamlet): "Doctors & Ministers of dis grace defend me!" The 'dis' is scored through but conspicuously legible. Addington holds a bottle of Gunpowder to her nose, and looks in alarm at the approaching army. He says: "Do not be alarm'd my dear lady! the Buggabo's (the Honest Gentlemen, I mean,) are avowedly directed to Colonial service, - they can have nothing to do Here - my Lady! - nothing to do with Us! - do take a Sniff or two, to raise your Spirits, and try to stand, if it is only upon One Leg!" Hawkesbury looks down with deep melancholy, supporting her (cracked) shield, and holding her (damaged) spear. He says: "Yes my Lady, you must try to Stand up, or we shall never be able to "March to Paris"". Sheridan holds Harlequin's wooden sword of 'Dramatic-Loyalty' in his right hand (cf. BMSat 9916). On his left arm is a shield with Medusa's head, the snaky locks inscribed: 'Abuse', 'Bouncing', 'Puffing', 'Detraction', 'Stolen Jests', 'Malevolence', 'Stale Wit', 'Envy'. He wears a hat turned up in front with a tricolour cockade; its crown is a fool's cap with two ears and a bell. Round his paunch is a tricolour sash through which is thrust a paper: 'Ways and Means to get a Living'. He shouts in defiance at the distant army: "Let 'em come! - dam'me!!! - where are the French Buggabo's? - single handed I'd beat forty of 'em!!! dam'me, I'd pay 'em like Renter Shares, sconce off their half Crowns!!! - mulct them out of their Benefits, & come ye Drury Lane Slang over 'em!" Behind, between Addington and Sheridan, is the head of Fox, holding his hat before his eyes; he says: "Dear me - what can be the reason of the Old Lady being awak'd in such a Fright? - I declare I can't see any thing of the Buggabo's!" In the foreground lies a long torn scroll, headed 'Treaty of Peace.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Britannia recover'd from a trance and Britannia recovered from a trance
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Temporary local subject terms: Harlequins -- Britannia -- Literature: Parody of Hamlet by Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Medical: Smelling salts -- Weapons: Ammunition -- Gunpowder -- Sword -- Emblems: Britannia's shield -- Britannia's spear -- Shield with Medusa -- France: Threat of invasion -- Peace treaties., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 26.4 x 36.3 cm, on sheet 29.7 x 39.2 cm., On verso is an 1803 postmark, remnants of a seal, and an address written in a contemporary hand: Chas. Berners Esqr. Junr., Woolverstone Park, Ipswich., and Mounted on leaf 54 of volume 5 of 12.
Publisher:
Publd. March 14th, 1803, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
"A pair of breeches, formerly belonging to Fox, much inflated and forming two merging and transparent globes with projecting legs, is poised (at the seat) on three ostrich feathers, erect in a round bed of (ministerial) roses (see BMSat 10558, &c). Within these globes members of the Ministry sit at a round table, devouring loaves and fishes. The nearest ones are in back view, and have the heavy posteriors characteristic of the Grenvilles (cf. BMSat 10530). Lord Grenville, a fish in each hand, with Lord Ellenborough on his right, Buckingham on his left., and, next the latter, Lord Temple. They sit on a cushioned bench like those of Parliament, which follows the curve of the breeches. The others, left to right from Temple, are Spencer, Windham, Erskine, Petty, Lord Holland, [Identified by his own note.] Moira, who sits full face opposite Grenville, Lauderdale, Sheridan, Howick; Sidmouth on Ellenborough's right completes the circle. All are gormandizing on fish in different degrees, except Spencer and Holland who eat normally. Before Grenville is a dish containing two large fish: 'Treasury' and 'Exchequer', see BMSat 10543, &c. A dog, its collar inscribed 'Tierney', puts its forefeet on the bench, yapping at Grenville's back (cf. BMSats 10128, &c., 10603). On the ground beside him are three cats eating fish in a dish inscribed 'Tabbeys'; their collars are inscribed 'Bet Fox', 'Fitz', and 'Jordan'. Rats surround a dish inscribed 'Scribblers' [ministerial journalists and pamphleteers]. Larger rats in the Ministerial rose-bed gnaw at the feathers which support the breeches. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Political mathematicians shaking the broad bottomed hemispheres
Description:
Title etched below image., Two lines of quoted text following title, preceded by a curly bracket: "Mr. Paull is fixed upon a rock, and be assured he will prove the fulcrum by means of which the present Broadbottomites will be overset." Sir F. Burdett's speech., Two lines of text near top margin of image: To that last hope of the country, "the New Opposition," this representation of "Charley's Old Breeches in Danger" is respectfuly [sic] submited [sic]., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 31.8 x 42.5 cm, on sheet 35.4 x 46.7 cm., and Mounted on leaf 37 of volume 6 of 12.
Publisher:
Publish'd Jany. 9th, 1807, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Ellenborough, Edward Law, Baron, 1750-1818, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839, Spencer, George John Spencer, Earl, 1758-1834, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Lauderdale, James Maitland, Earl of, 1759-1839, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Paull, James, 1770-1808, Cobbett, William, 1763-1835, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Rose, George, 1744-1818, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, and Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
"In the manner of history painting rather than caricature. ... George III as St. George, in uniform, holds up his sword, about to give a final blow to a scaly dragon with the head of Napoleon. The long convolutions of the dragon are under the horse's feet: Napoleon's head, with a barbed fang and flames issuing from the mouth, looks up despairingly. A sword-cut has gashed his skull, and cut his crown in two. The dragon has large wings and the legs and talons of a beast of prey; it falls backwards: Britannia (left) will just escape being crushed."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Saint George and the dragon
Description:
Title etched below image., Artist identified as Lt.-Col. Thomas Richmond Gale Braddyll in the British Museum catalogue., 1 print : etching with aquatint on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 39.9 x 40.4 cm, on sheet 42.7 x 45.1 cm., and Mounted on leaf 9 of volume 6 of 12.
Publisher:
Publish'd August 2d, 1805, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 and George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
"Britannia (right), fat, good-natured, and richly dressed, holding a fan, is kissed by a tall lean French military officer who bends forward, holding her below the shoulders. He is war-worn, his pigtail stands awkwardly erect and his hair straggles over his face, while the crown of his head is almost bald, as if plucked (cf. BMSat 10072). He wears jackboots ; his hat and sword lie on the ground beside him. She is almost spherical; her shield and trident, replacing the usual spear, lean against the wall behind her and out of sight. He says: "Madame, permittez me, to pay my profound esteem to your engaging person! & to seal on your divine Lips my everlasting attachment!!!" A cynical and sensual grin indicates the character of his advances. She smiles with coy complacency, saying, "Monsieur, you are truly a well-bred Gentleman! - & tho' you make me blush, yet, you Kiss so delicately, that I cannot refuse you; tho' I was sure you would Deceive me again!!!" Above their heads are oval bust portraits of Napoleon (left) and George III (right), the two men extending their arms as if to shake hands; the King scowls, Napoleon regards him with brooding suspicion. The frames are bordered by olive branches and palm-branches."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Meeting of Britannia & Citizen Francois and Meeting of Britannia and Citizen Francois
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., and Mounted on leaf 49 of volume 5 of 12.
Publisher:
Publishd. Jany. 1st, 1803, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 and George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820
"Britannia, massive, but childlike, sleeps in a large wicker cradle, rocked by Addington, dressed as an elderly woman, who is seated on a low stool (right). Hawkesbury, a thin and spinsterish nursemaid, (left) approaches the foot of the cradle holding out an ornate child's commode, inscribed 'French C . . k . . g Chair'. Behind the cradle appear the head and shoulders of Fox, looking furtively towards Britannia and Addington, while he hangs out napkins to dry on a cord stretched across the fireplace; one is 'French Cambrick'. Britannia sleeps with her thumb in her mouth, her right arm across the coverlet, holding her shield and spear; her uncovered shoulder shows that she is wearing a Roman corslet. The head of the cradle is inscribed: 'Requiescat in Pace'. Addington sings: "o, By - my Baby, my Baby, - o, By - in Peace! my dearee! - For such a sweet Nap as This, You never had, far nor nearee! - so. By - my Baby, my dearee!' On the ground is a casserole of 'French Pap'; on the plain chimney-piece are a bottle labelled 'Composing Draught' and a box of 'Opiate Pills'. Above it is a print of 'Buonaparte' playing a fiddle and capering ecstatically. On the wall (left) are a broadside: 'Rule Britannia . . . Britons never will be - ['slaves' torn off] and (right) a birch-rod tied with tricolour ribbon. Addington, Hawkesbury, and Fox all wear their hair in their accustomed manner with the addition of tricolour ribbons. The first two look anxious, Fox registers calculating satisfaction."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Nursery -- Cradle -- Casserole -- Child's Commode -- Bonnet Rouge., 1 print : etching on wove paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 25.3 x 35.4 cm, on sheet 26.4 x 36.9 cm., and Mounted on leaf 48 of volume 5 of 12.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 4th, 1802, by Js. Gillray, No. 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, and Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821