"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
"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., 1 print : etching and aquatint ; plate mark 36.2 x 26.1 cm, on sheet 36.9 x 27 cm., Printed on wove paper; hand-colored., and Bound in between third and fourth front flyleaves.
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
"Diogenes stands in the House of Commons between the two front benches; both arms are thrown out towards Burdett with a dramatic gesture; in one hand is his lantern, illuminating the patriot at close range; small clouds at his feet indicate that he is a ghost. He turns his head to look steadily at three members on the front Ministerial bench (left), saying: "An Honest Man is the noblest work of God" [Pope, 'Essay on Man', quoted by Burns, cf. British Museum Satires No. 11562]. The three culprits (unrecognizable) register shame and terror, their hair standing on end. Burdett stands by the front bench (right) on which is his hat, displaying to the frightened Ministers (one intended for Perceval) a document headed 'Magna Charta--Pro Rege, lege, grege' [see British Museum Satires No. 11547]. Except for one member on the front bench, those behind Burdett stand, five being depicted, three of whom wave their hats. All the occupants of the gallery wave still more emphatically. In the background and on the left is the Speaker's Chair; the diminutive Abbot, author of the famous Warrant, see British Museum Satires No. 11545, &c., holds up a hand in astonished alarm. Burdett was in the Tower during May, see British Museum Satires No. 11558. 'Hair on end' is an allusion to Lethbridge, see British Museum Satires No. 11538."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Ghost of Diogenes, more hair on end
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Lettered above image: Tegg's Caricatures, No. 111 Cheapside, no. 13. Price one shillg. colod., and Text below title: Diogenes being observed looking about with a lanthorn alight a noon day, was asked what he was hunting after when he replied, for an honest man.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1810 by T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Diogenes, -approximately 323 B.C., Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Abbot, Charles, Baron Colchester, 1757-1829, Lethbridge, Thomas Buckler, 1778-1849., and Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,