The birth day hoax, or, The gout at court April 23d, 1823. [graphic]

"Carriages approach the east front of Buckingham House (left), watched by spectators. The first coach is stopped by a monster who stands on the shoulders of two beefeaters, wearing a cap inscribed Gout; flames issue from broad nostrils, barbed darts from his mouth; he has talons for hands and feet. He says: You may all return from whence ye came, and lay up your court dresses in Lavender; for, by the King's Great Toe I swear, you shall not enter here. High up under the pediment of the façade, stands a demon or blue devil, legs astride, who shouts: You have not got him all to yourself Signor Pinchtoe!! A beefeater holds up a placard on a pole: Bulletin. Notice Drawing Room postponed. Precisely at twenty two minutes five seconds past four this morning it was discovered (by a Lord of the Bed-Chamber) that the left side of his Majesty's Great Toe, on the right foot had suffered a slight accession of Inflammation--it is not yet accurately known to the faculty wether it is a bite from a Blue Devil [cf. British Museum Satires No. 14598] a Whitlow, or the Gout. Signed Tierney Halford. The foremost coachman, wearing cocked hat, powdered wig, and nosegay, reins in a pair of heavy horses and gapes at the monster; ladies put feathered heads from the coach windows; one addresses a fat elderly man who stands by the coach: It's not pretty behaviour however to disapoint so many merely on account of a trifling Pinch of the Great Toe. He answers: My dear Lady! it would be quite contrary to Etiquette for a King to be seen limping into a Drawing Room upon crutches with a swelled Foot and a big Shoe. The two footmen behind are run into by the horses of the next carriage, which has men in plain livery; one turns to strike at the horses. The lady looks out to say: Its very provoking to be hoax'd in this manner after being put to all the Trouble and Expence! Two Irishmen stand together in the foreground, one says: By Jasus i'll be after bringing a Bill into the House to enable his Majesty to see company in his slippers, does'nt ould King Louis hold a Drawing Room with both his legs bound up in flannel? The other answers: Poh! Sir Pheligm! it comes with keeping bad company, has'nt he caught the complaint of the Ould City Baronet [Curtis] think you? Two liveried chairmen (right) have grounded their sedan-chair; one raises the roof, the other addresses the lady within; he points over his shoulder with his thumb, saying, They say as how there is a Bul-let-in and he has trod upon his Majestys Great Toe, and that makes all the botheration my Lady! She says: It's an Irish Bull then I am certain!! Behind the Park railing (right) are tiny spectators."--British Museum online catalogue