"George III stands on a low rectangular platform placed upon a boarded floor and is approached from all sides by applicants for office. He is in back view, but turns his head in profile to the left, to inspect a group through his spy-glass, saying: Well Gentlemen,--I have taken a peep at you all: but I am afraid that you won't do--for some of you are too Heavy & Broad-Bottom'd for Service; & the rest seem to have no Bottom at all.--So Gentlemen, I think I shall he content with my Old Servants. In the front row (left), bowing low, are three Grenvilles, the Broad-Bottoms par excellence (see No. 10530): Grenville, holding a gold-laced coachman's hat and long whip, says: Does your Honor want a steady Broad-Bottom'd Coachman to drive you; in bowing he has split his tight breeches. His nephew Temple is next him, then the spectacled Buckingham who says: We'll do any Thing; his son (Temple) adds and in any Way! [cf. No. 10721]. Close behind is the emaciated Sidmouth, hat in hand and holding out a bottle labelled Cathartic; he says: Pray your Honor remember Doctor Slop! your Old Apothecary, who Physick'd the French! [see No. 9849]. Next him and nearer the spectator stands Whitbread, dressed as a porter, and mopping his head. His porter's knot is on the ground, inscribed: Saml Froth his Knot--Carries any Weight in any Weather. He supports against his knees a huge rectangular pile of Motions to be brought in the House of Commons. These are inscribed: Motion against Royal Family [cf. No. 11234]; Motion against the Ministry; against the War; against y Judges; against the Church; against Magna Charta; Motion against. He says: If his Honor wants an Honest Porter, I'm his Man! Behind him and on the extreme left Lord Henry Petty capers to a dancing-master's kit which he plays with his fingers; he asks: Does his Honor want a Fidler to play a Jig [see No, 10589]. Behind Petty and Whitbread are two men dressed as chairmen with straps across the shoulder: one is Grattan; the other (?) Ponsonby, asks: Does his Honor want a pair of Irish Chairmen to carry his Honor clean through the Mud? Behind these and in the doorway (left) is a group of three: Cobbett, holding up his hat and a sheaf of Cobbett Political Register, says: Does his Honor want a Patriotic Reformer? Burdett asks: Does his Honor want a Partner in Business!--ask him Townsend. Townsend, the Bow Street officer, holding up his constable's staff, faces the group, saying sternly: Out with you & be damn'd; from the back of his head a label floats towards the Grenvilles: Take care of your Pockets--Gentlemen Broad bottoms. Horne Tooke says: I'm not Bill Soanes [see No. 10708]. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Old English gentleman pestered by servants wanting places
Description:
Title etched at bottom of image., Mounted to 32 x 46 cm., and Figures identified by ms. notes in a modern hand.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 16th, 1809, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Buckingham, George Nugent Temple Grenville, Marquess of, 1753-1813, Buckingham and Chandos, Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos, Duke of, 1776-1839, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Grattan, Henry, 1746-1820, Lansdowne, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of, 1780-1863, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Cobbett, William, 1763-1835, Hastings, Francis Rawdon-Hastings, Marquess of, 1754-1826, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Bedford, John Russell, Duke of, 1766-1839, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Spencer, George John Spencer, Earl, 1758-1834, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, and St. Vincent, John Jervis, Viscount, 1735-1823
