"Stoddart sits in the centre of the design blowing through a trumpet a blast of abuse towards the newly-arrived Queen (left) while holding out copies of his newspaper towards four ragged little newsboys (right), who also blow their horns with great vigour. Queen Caroline, tall, dignified, and demurely dressed in black, flinches from Stoddart's blast, and is protected by Britannia and Alderman Wood. She says: "Surely thos Fellows will not be suffered to Insult me in this manner? who is it that Sets them on? who encourages them." Britannia, seated on a very angry Lion, extends her arms, saying: "Welcome Beloved of thy People, the Mother of Englands lost -- & ever to be lamented Hope, will ever be dear to the Hearts of every true born Englishman." Wood, wearing an Alderman's gown, tries to protect her with a shield inscribed: 'No more Douglas's an Englishman's Rights, Justice & Truth'. From Stoddart's trumpet issue the words: 'Treason, Crim Con, no Rights, no Claims, no pretensions, no Prerogatives, no Patronage, no Property, no Soul to be Prayed for, no Justice, no Law, no Protection, Woe to them that espouse her Cause, Woe to them that Speak well of her!!!' At his feet lie newspapers: 'New Times', 'Morning Post', 'Courier'. Castlereagh and Sidmouth (right), who extend admonitory fingers, urge him on: the former says: "hit hard--dont spare now Dr Slop here is a fine Oppertunity for you to indulge your Spleen." Sidmouth, larger than life and shockingly malevolent, says: "Blow away my boys, spread it far and near, lay it on thick, do not stand for Trifles!!!" The biggest newsboy has a bill headed 'New Times' in his hat; another holds a bundle of the 'Courier', 'New Times', and '[Morning] Post'. A third has 'News' in his hat. Behind and between Stoddart and Castlereagh a man capers in ecstasy, waving a hat in which is a paper: 'Pardon for Edwards'. He exclaims: "Now I shall have a Job again and get better paid than before.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Spies, spawns & spewers of scurrility, abuse & defamation set to work and Spies, spawns and spewers of scurrility, abuse and defamation set to work
Description:
Title etched below image. and Attributed to William Heath in the British Museum catalogue.
Publisher:
Pub. June 8th, 1820, by S.W. Fores, 41 Picadilli [sic]
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Stoddart, John, 1773-1856, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, and Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822
Subject (Topic):
Britannia (Symbolic character), Horns (Communication devices), Newspaper vendors, Newspapers, and Lions
