The funeral procession of the rump [graphic]

"Below each part of the procession are explanatory inscriptions beginning (left): ‘Order of Procession’. A satire on the defeat of Hobhouse by Lamb at the Westminster Election. The Rump, or remnant of Reformers, is represented by the hind-quarters of a cart-horse, with its hoofs in the air, carried on a knacker’s cart, the front of which is formed by a guillotine. This rump is on a coffin inscribed ‘Hic Jacit Rumpibus’. Two posts at the back of the cart form, with the supports of the guillotine, four uprights connected by poles, each topped by a bonnet rouge with tricolour cockade, and hung with tricolour scarves draped in black. A headsman’s axe dripping blood projects from the top of the guillotine. The cart, inscribed ‘Peter Knife Nacker Tuthill Fields’, is drawn by a miserable donkey ridden by a ragged little chimney-sweep with a bludgeon, who shouts: "Cum, hup ye xxxxx Warment or I’ll cut your xxxxx Rump off!" This is: ‘The Rump itself, borne on Mr Hobby’s Triumphal Car & drawn by an Ass.’ Two hungry dogs eye the carcass, towards which flock carrion birds. Beside the cart walk, two a side, ‘Pall bearers’, ‘Four Bum-bailiffs’, smartly dressed and vulgar-looking, whose hat-scarves are formed of writs. Behind the cart is Hobhouse riding a new velocipede or hobby-horse (see No. 13399). He weeps, holding up a handkerchief, saying: "Fare thee well, & if for ever, Then for ever Fare thee well," words appropriate to the friend of Byron, see No. 12827, &c. He wears a large tricolour mourning-scarf round his hat; a long cloak or train hangs from the collar of his coat, and is held up by Burdett and Francis Place. Captions: ‘Chief Mourner, Mr Hobbyhorse--suffering ye Tortures of the D--d!!--his Train supported by Bodkin!! & the Baronet--done over!!!’ Both wear mourning-scarves, both weep copiously, stooping forward. Place has a cabbage for a head, emblem of tailordom, cf. No. 11824, and holds a stiletto or bodkin, as if it were a dagger. Burdett says: "To think that I should have eaten salt with the Lying Chronicle!! "tis the Only act of my life,--I am ashamed of--"And, yet, it can not be for that, that all my old friends have forsaken me!!!!? "yet I could accuse me of such things, &c"-- I am very "proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences--at my back than I have thoughts to put them in.--" what should such a fellow as I do crawling "between earth & heaven? we are "errant Knaves beleive none of us;". At his feet is a paper: ‘Bombastes Furioso’. Place says: "What! can daunt the soul of a master Tailor?!!" yet "who would fardels bear, To groan & sweat under a weary life, When he himself might his own quietus make with a bare bodkin?" Both quote, inaccurately, ‘Hamlet’, III. i. Behind Burdett walks a dwarfish hunchback, burying his face in the former’s coat-tails; he carries a pole surmounted by ink-pot and empty purse. Long papers hang from his pocket: ‘Unpaid Bills Brooks Secty to the Rump’ and ‘Acct of money paid for Bribery &c’. He sobs: "O! Oh! Oh! O!!! The day of Reckoning is at hand!" Caption: ‘assist Mournr Master Brooke full of Cutting panes’. He is followed by four wig-blocks resting on human rumps, and having arms in which they hold poles with black and tricolour draperies inscribed ‘No Wig’. They are ‘The Rump Committee Blockheads 2 & 2--’ They are followed by a crowd of hideous ruffians, a ferocious mob led by butchers holding knives and choppers, and with candles stuck in their bonnets rouges (like sewer-men). Among them is a noseless woman; those behind have bludgeons and a broom, and hold up a (tricolour) banner inscribed: ‘No King No Lords No Coms & No Clargy No Constitution No Laws No Lamb No Nothing but Burdett & Hobby for ever & ever’. They shout: "Hob for ever!; Burdett for ever; Hobhouse; Hobhouse for ever Burdett for ever; Burdett & Hobhouse for ever no Lamb." Caption: ‘Phebotomizers 2 & 2--The rest of the followers--the Scum of Earth’. The procession (left) is headed by the hangman carrying a pole with a cross-piece inscribed ‘Equality’, from which dangle two tiny corpses; this is surmounted by a bonnet rouge. He is: ‘Mister John Ketch Esqr’. After him march four bow-legged or knock-kneed ruffians; two carry bundles of fetters, two hold banners draped with ragged black, and inscribed respectively: ‘Hold to the Laws i.e take ‘em in your own hands No Basteels’, and ‘Reform [reversed] Freedom!! and No Big Wigs’. They are: ‘Acquitted Felons two & two--’ These four wear battered hats without mourning-scarves. Behind them, and immediately in front of the ass, walks Thelwall, wearing a hat with scarf over his bonnet rouge; he holds a paper: ‘Champion’ and shambles dejectedly, saying, "If I be not ashamed of my company, I am a souc’d Gurnet:" "Ill not march through Coventry with them that’s flat". He is ‘Mr Thelwall Esqr’. Beside him is a sign-post pointing (left): ‘To the Bottom less Pit!!’ To this a rat is tied. In the foreground (right) beside the procession two ragged and disreputable women, apparently ballad-singers, sprawl on the ground. One is emaciated, under her hand is a paper: ‘The Rump for ever to the tune of Rumpt--Bum--iti’; from her mouth stream the words: "Oh! D--n my eyes I can’t stand it any longer"; in her bonnet are tricolour ribbons: ‘Hobhouse for ever’. The other, fat and angry, is supported by a hideous scavenger with a bottle inscribed ‘Bribery & Corruption’. She kicks a little ragged boy, who exclaims: "Oh! My Rump!" Caption: ‘NB The figs in ye corner represent the excessive grief of some Rumpti Tumti female Friends of the Rump’. In the background is a mound with a signpost: ‘Tothill Downs’. Down the slope a tiny figure of Hunt, wearing hunting costume, wheels (right to left) a wheelbarrow, ‘N° 38’, containing the carcass of a horse (Cartwright) inscribed ‘Universal Suffrage Annual Parliament’; he shouts "cat’s meat!" In front walks a ‘Black Dwarf’, Wooler, as in No. 12988, &c., dragging the barrow by a rope."--British Museum online catalogue