[An essay on the sublime & beautiful] [The maiden speech] [graphic]Rowlandson, Thomas, 1756-1827, printmaker[1 October 1785]eng"[Left image] One of two designs on the same plate, see British Museum Satires No. 6864. A cobbler (left) preaches in a bare, raftered room with a casement window. He stands behind a reading-desk on which is a large, open book, leaning forward, pointing, gesticulating, and shouting. The heads of his congregation, old men and women, are below and on the right. The title is from Burke's book, 'A Philosophical Enquiry into the origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful' (1756)."--British Museum online catalogue, description of later state with similar composition"[Right image] A companion design to BMSat 6863 on the same plate. A scene in the House of Commons showing the corner of the clerks' table (left), the benches on the right crowded with members, and part of the gallery above, with two persons looking over. The new member stands, knees bent, hat in his left hand, right hand extended; his attitude and expression convey the impression of a halting and embarrassed speech. He is in full dress, with sword and bag-wig. The members listen with expressions of contemptuous amusement or boredom."--British Museum online catalogue, description of later state with similar compositionTitle, printmaker, and publication information from lettered state.Proof before letters. For a later state with title and publication line, see nos. 6863 and 6864 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6.Sheet trimmed within plate mark.Two images on one plate that are individually titled on lettered state.Cf. Grego, J. Rowlandson the caricaturist, v. 1, page 165.Mounted on leaf 15 of volume 2 of 14 volumes.