"A large frothing tankard stands on a cask whose head forms the base of the design. From the froth Pitt emerges as Death on the White Horse (of Hanover, cf. BMSat 8691), giving the effect of a fantastic equestrian statue on a high pedestal. Pitt is in back view; in his right hand is a flaming sword, his left arm is raised, he turns his head slightly to the right, his right leg is extended; he wears his ordinary dress with heavily spurred top-boots. His head is the centre of rays on which his orders are inscribed, above it: 'Bella! \ Horrida \ Bella!' On the left are heavy clouds about to cover the sun, whose features indicate profound sleep; rays to the left are inscribed: 'Sun get thee to Bed! Myself will Light ye World' and 'Ho Rains! - Deluges! - Drown the Harvest!' Slanting rain descends in torrents from the clouds, battering down heads of wheat and obscuring a cottage in the background. On the right are the winds: four cherubs' heads blowing violent blasts in every direction, two of which are filled with swarms of insects. Rays to the right are inscribed: 'Pestiferous Winds! blast the fruits of the Earth!' and 'Ho! Flies! Grubs, Caterpillars! destroy the Hops!' The blasts strike hops twined round poles on the right of the design. On the tankard is a large '4' within a circle inscribed 'Pro-Bono-Ministero', and a small 'WP' with the Pitt crest of stork and anchor. On the cask a long lighted pipe inscribed 'Bellendenus' lies across a paper of tobacco inscribed : 'Ruin upon Ruin, or an Essay on the Ways & Means for supporting the cursed War.' ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Ministerial conjurations for supporting the war
Description:
Title etched below image., Four lines of text below title: "Four pence a pot for porter! Mercy upon us! Ah! its all owing to the war & the cursed ministry! ..." Vide, the doctor's reveries, every day after dinner., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: Dishes: tankards -- Barrels -- Emblems: White Horse of Hanover -- Weapons: fiery sword -- Reference to influence of bad weather on harvest in 1799 -- War cries: Bella! Horrida bella! -- Emblems: Pitt's crest, stork & anchor -- Rain -- Reference to Dr. Samuel Parr (1747-1825) -- Reference to Parr's Preface to Bellendenus.
Publisher:
Publish'd Novr. 29th, 1799, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
