publish'd according to act of Parliament, March 7, 1741.
Call Number:
741.03.07.02.3+
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Satire on Robert Walpole, showing the grounds for the Motion to remove him from office. In the foreground an extravagantly dressed young woman, representing bribery and corruption, distributes lucrative offices to the clergy, judges, army officers and members of parliament all of whom wear yokes about their necks and profess their loyalty to her and to Walpole's policies including, in the case of the politicians, a general Excise. At her feet is a pile of money bags, a coronets, orb and sceptre, bank bills and pensions. In the background Walpole rides on a waggon in the form of a large money chest labelled "for the [blank]/For Secret Services/For ye Projector/for Friends and Assistants"; its wheels are labelled "Expence of Law &c./Penal Laws/G[i]n A[c]t/Debts/Civel List/Taxes" crush men representing "Manufactures/Trade/Honesty/Liberty"; penants attached to the waggon name taxes levied under Walpole's ministry, "Malt Ale/Tobacco Wine/Leather/Gin/Stamp/Land Tax/Candles/Soap/Salt/Coals". Walpole himself, lettered, "Volpone the Projector", stands on top of the waggon saying "Whoever flinches I'll discard"; he slices open an infant ("Sinking Fund") with a sword so that coins from its belly fall into the money chest, at the same time he blows French and Spanish ships out of Brest and Ferol into the Atlantic to frustrate Admiral Vernon's efforts in the Caribbean, while breaking wind that holds British ships in Torbay; a devil flying above, observes, "this wind is strong agt. them). The waggon is driven by "Volpone Junior" (Robert, Baron Walpole) and drawn by six yoked placemen, while the "Balance Master" (Horatio Walpole) sits on the back exclaiming, "Lawful plunder". Bishop Herring (labelled "Salty") follows the waggon acting as a recruiting officer holding a spear and encouraging, "All B[isho]ps, P[ee]rs, C[ommon]ers or others, willing to List in Projectrs Service. repair thither & meet with suitable Encouragemt."; a pamphlet of 1740, "Letter to a Member [of Parliament concerning the present state of affairs at home and abroad]" protrudes from his pocket; he is accompanied by two journalists, "Freeman" (Raphael Courteville) playing the drum and "Sidney" blowing the horn each has a copy of the "Gazeteer" in his pocket."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched above image., Publication line printed in letterpress at bottom of sheet., "Sold at the print and pamplet-shops of London and Westminster"--Preceding publication line., "(Price four-pence)"--Following publication line., Three columns of verse in letterpress below image, the first of fifteen numbered stanzas beginning: I. Vat be dat machine do make de Folk groan-é? It be de invention of de old Fox Volponé ..., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark on top edge.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain. and Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Robert, Earl of Orford, 1676-1745, Walpole, Horatio Walpole, Baron, 1678-1757, Herring, Thomas, 1693-1757, and Courteville, Raphael, -1772
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, Misconduct in office, Politics and government, Clergy, Corruption, Lawyers, and Politcians
