"The 'Old Lady' is a thin old harridan, dressed entirely in 'One' pound notes, and seated on an iron-studded treasure-chest inscribed 'Bank of England', fastened by two heavy padlocks. She shrieks and throws up her skinny arms at Pitt's advances: he has taken a long stride towards her from the right, his right hand round her waist; his left dips into a cavernous pocket and takes out guineas. Their profiles almost touch, and he appears about to kiss her. She shrieks: "Murder! - murder! - Rape! - murder! - O you Villain! - what have I kept my Honor untainted so long, to have it broke up, by you at last ? - O murder! - Rape! - Ravishment! - Ruin! - Ruin! - Ruin!!!" Pitt's hat lies on the ground; beneath it is a scroll headed 'Loans'. A lightly sketched arc of the rotunda of the Bank forms a background."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Old lady of Threadneedle-Street in danger
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Bank of England -- Personifications: Bank of England as an old lady of Threadneedle Street -- Coffers -- Allusion to loans -- Pocket picking.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 22d, 1797, by H. Humphrey, St. James's Street
