"Fox, as the Devil, has sprung into the air, supported by small feathered wings inscribed 'Honesty' and 'Humility' and by two stout crutches, which rest upon dark clouds. He has a heavy hairy body with cloven hoofs, and wears a bonnet rouge with tricolour cockade and the triple plume of the Prince of Wales. The two crutches have the heads, respectively, of Sidmouth (left) and Grenville. He wears a long narrow cloak with a tricolour collar; it is inscribed 'Loyalty, Independence & Public-Good'. The end of this is clutched by John Bull, a fat 'cit' (resembling John Gilpin, see BMSat 6886, &c), who is drawn up into the air, losing hat and wig. Fox says, looking over his right shoulder with a sinister grin: "Come along Johnny! - take fast hold of my Cloak, & I'll bring you to the land of Milk & Honey!!!" The terrified John answers: " - O yes, I will try to holdfast! - but I'm damnably afraid that your Cloak may slip off before we get there, & I may chance to break my Neck!" Below John's feet and at the base of the design (left), are the roofs of London, including the top of the gateway of St. James's Palace and the dome of St. Paul's. Fox is flying towards the façade of Carlton House, which emerges from clouds; over its roof rises a sun emitting rays, the disk inscribed 'New Constitution'. Above the colonnade is the inscription 'Carolus. II. Redimmus'. Resting on the clouds below Carlton House are three tiny scenes: 'Liberty': two gamblers throwing dice, one Sheridan the other the Prince; men watch them. 'Chastity', the Prince and Mrs. Fitzherbert, indicated by feathers in her hair, embrace on a sofa. 'Temperance', men carouse at a round table; one sprawls on the floor. Fox, as the Devil (cf. BMSat 6383, &c), under the cloak of patriotism, is carried to power by two props, Sidmouth and Grenville, on whose coalition with the Foxites the new Ministry, see BMSat 10531, &c, is. based. This relies not on St. James's but on Carlton House, the secrets of which, as in Le Sage's story, are revealed in three scenes satirizing the life of the Prince. The allegation that the new Ministry was subservient to Carlton House was natural, see BMSat 10252, &c, and recurs, see (e.g.) BMSats 10530, &c, 10543, 10697, but proved unfounded, see G. M. Trevelyan, 'Lord Grey of the Reform Bill', p. 153 f., and cf. BMSat 10526, &c."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Devil upon two sticks conveying John Bull to the land of promise
Description:
Title etched below image., Attribution following title: Vide le Sage., and Mounted to 45 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Publishd. Feby. 8th, 1806, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street, London
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, and Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834
