"A number of men with asses' heads sit round a table signing a petition. They are upon a platform in a ramshackle room; a ladder rests against its left corner; on the ladder appear the head and shoulders of Fox in back view; he holds strings attached to the noses of the asses. The ass seated at the head of the table (left) hands down to him a 'Petition to the House of Commons for Delay [signed] Ign[or]amus'. An ass holds a long document, the 'Commercial Treaty with France', which falls across the table on to the ground; on his right shoulder an ass rests his head; another on the left sleeps with his head resting on a pile of books on the table. A spectacled ass writes busily; next him, at the end of the table (right), an ass leans back asleep. The nose of a braying ass appears through a door on the extreme right. Behind the table an ass places a notice on the wall: 'Chamber of Commerce at a Meeting held the 10th of February Resolved'. This partly covers another bill: 'Chamber [of] Commerce at a Meeting 9th Decr 1786 Resolv[ed]'. On a shelf (left) a figure of Mercury with a wooden leg dances, flourishing a caduceus; the right hand is broken off; behind it part of a vase is visible inscribed 'Wedgwood'. Figure and vase are on a pedestal inscribed 'Ex Quovis Ligno non fit Mercurius'. A casement window with broken panes and a raftered ceiling indicate the squalor of the room."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Assemblée des not-ables anglois and Assemblée des notables anglois
Description:
Title etched in bottom center of image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Lewis Walpole Library: Horace Walpole refers to subject., and Mounted on page 52 with one other print.
Publisher:
Publd. the 14th Febry. 1787 by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and France.
Subject (Name):
Wedgwood, Josiah, 1730-1795. and France.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Foreign economic relations, Mercury (Roman deity), and Donkeys
"Erskine, dressed as an officer of the Inns of Court Volunteers, kneels on one knee to receive spurs from Sir James Mansfield, in legal wig and gown, who stands over him, his sword held vertically. Erskine's knee rests on a bulky brief: 'The King v. Hardy Brief for Def[ence]'; he says: "Henceforth I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance [? and abjure] traiterous . . . (the words obscured by his plumed helmet)". In the foreground two couples of privates or N.C.O.s (left and right) walk off scowling suspiciously over their shoulders at the investiture. The design is framed by two arches of the cloister of the Temple Church. Through one (left) is seen the body of the church: three (sculptured) recumbent Knights Templars raise themselves from their tombs to gaze in horror at the scene. All five volunteers wear plumed helmets and epaulets. The two on the left carry, one a pike, the other a bayoneted musket, both directed towards the new knight. Under the foot of one is a torn paper: 'Mr Sheridan Speech & Vote of thanks to the Volunteer[s]'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in top part of image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Approximate date of publication from the British Museum catalogue., Two columns of verse below image: Templars of old were valiant knights, defenders of their country's rights ..., and Mounted on page 102.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Mansfield, James, Sir, 1733-1821, Hardy, Thomas, 1752-1832., Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., and Temple Church (London, England),
"Fox and his party (three quarter length) surround a Twelfth Night cake which Weltje was about to cut into portions. The cause of a sudden check to this proceeding is indicated by a broad ray of light (which strikes the cake and the bystanders) and by a scroll: 'The King shall enjoy his own again'. Weltje stands on the left, his arms extended towards the scroll, saying, "Den by Got we sail heb no Cake"; he drops his knife. He and Sheridan are the most agitated of the party: Sheridan with a face of despair looks up, saying, '"Now our Ruin is complete" School for Scandal'. (He is Joseph Surface as in British Museum Satires No. 7510, &c; the actual words are "Tis now complete!') Fox stands disconsolately, his hands in his pockets, his back to the ray. Burke (right), his arms folded, scowls up at the ray. Behind these three Stormont, Loughborough, and Sandwich (on the extreme right) regard it with less pronounced despair. Portland stands behind the cake, frowning fixedly. The centre of the cake is ornamented with the Prince of Wales's coronet and feathers (as are Weltje's buttons); on the centre feather is poised a crown. The cake has been marked in sections where it is to be cut, these are inscribed 'Ist Lord Admy' [Sandwich had been considered for the post and also for that of Ambassador to France], 'Secrety State foreign' [Fox], 'Secrety State home' [Stormont], 'Paymar Genl' [Burke], 'Ist Comm Board Control', and 'Treas Navy' (Sheridan's arm extends across this, the place intended for him, pending a transfer to the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, Sir G. Elliot, 'Life and Letters', i. 260-1)."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Temporary local subject terms: Quotation from Sheridan's School for scandal., and Mounted on page 67 with one other print.
Publisher:
Publ. by Thos. Cornell
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Mansfield, David Murray, Earl of, 1727-1796, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, and Weltje, Louis, 1745-1810
"Stanhope swims beside a small two-masted sailing-vessel, dragging it against wind and stream. His head and chest are in the position of a figure-head, his right arm is outstretched, holding a tricolour flag, his left arm is stretched behind him holding the tiller, and he kicks at the rudder with the left foot, his leg being raised above the water from the knee. He is pushed forward by a dolphin-like monster swimming (right) behind the vessel, which prods the skirts of his coat with a trident. The monster wears a French cockade; his tail waves in the air. From a staff in the stern, surmounted by a cap of 'Liberty', flies a flag: 'Equality & Fraternity'. Stanhope breasts the rippled water, which flows strongly against him, inscribed (left) 'The Current of public Opinion'. A small vessel (left) in the background sails left to right, her sails inflated. From the upper left margin projects a head blowing a blast of 'Loyalty' against 'The Stanhope'."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Stanhope, a republican gunboat constructed to sail against wind and tide
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Fifth of a set of seven prints in the series "Outlines of the Opposition in 1795 ..."; see British Museum catalogue., Plate numbered "5" in upper left corner., Temporary local subject terms: Opposition -- Boats -- Monsters -- Public opinion -- Cap of Liberty -- Loyalty., and Mounted on page 87 with one other print.
"Eight dissenting ministers, headed by Dr. Abraham-Rees, approach the King with an address whose inscription is the only title; it continues: 'in & about the Cities of London & Westmr We your Majesty s loyal and faithful...' Rees, a bulky 'Encyclopedia' in his coat-pocket, puts one foot on a step leading to a doorway within which are visible the legs of the seated King, and his right. hand, which rests on a wall-box from which issues a paper: 'Bramah Patent Water [C]losets'. Just outside the door, holding his long wand of office, Salisbury, the Lord Chamberlain (actually Dartmouth, cf. British Museum Satires No. 10283A), stands stiffly looking over the heads of the Addressers, who are ushered in by a beef-eater on the extreme left. Rees is scarcely caricatured except for a grotesque stalk-like neck which issues absurdly from a wide coat-collar. Behind him is Theophilus Lindsey, holding his hat and a big umbrella. Most of the other six are probably portraits, but two may be generalized sectaries with lank hair. All have sour, apprehensive expressions. A quasi-Tudor window suggests St. James's Palace. A whole length portrait of Charles I is issuing from the frame, one hand held up in horror. Over the door of the inner closet are the Royal Arms."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
From secret treason civil strife, may God preserve our sovereign's life ...
Description:
Title etched on scroll in image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Date from British Museum catalogue, which notes that this plate was not published., Six lines of verse in three columns below image: From secret treason civil strife, may God preserve our sovereign's life; And guard his court from these tormentors, fanatics, democrats, dissenters; Addressing knaves who sin and pray, and kiss like Judas to betray., and Mounted on page 109.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Salisbury, James Cecil, Marquess of, 1748-1823, Rees, Abraham, 1743-1825, Lindsey, Theophilus, 1723-1808, Popham, Home Riggs, 1762-1820, and Saint James's Palace (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Interiors, Politicians, Honor guards, Windows, and Umbrellas
"Within a handsome room, whose roof is supported by Corinthian columns, is a medley of playing-cards: the whole suit of clubs headed by the king and queen. On the extreme right is the knave (Fox), who is being kicked out of the door by the toe of the king which protrudes beyond the lower right corner of the card. Fox looks alarmed, saying, "Now I must associate". The queen holds a shield on which are the arms of the City of London. A banner emerging from the cards is inscribed: 'Associations for preserving Liberty & Property against Republicans & Levellers'. Above the door (right) is a picture: 'Plan of a new Constitution'; a house of cards is being demolished by a blast inscribed 'Loyalty' which issues from a head in the upper left corner; the topmost (but dislodged) card is the knave of clubs. On the extreme left are two rats: one holds up a card, a ten of (mixed) clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades; he says, "Association of the Dissenters" (the initial word 'loyal' has been scored through). The other rat watches him, saying, "As the Cards are against us we had better join the Clubs"."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Game of beat knave out of doors
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Text below title: NB This game should be play'd with all the knaves of the pack., Temporary local subject terms: Associations: Association for Preserving Liberty & Property Against Republicans & Levellers -- Cards: Royal clubs -- Vermin -- Loyalty -- House of cards., and Mounted on page 75 with one other print.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Charlotte, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, and Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806
"The three biographers of Johnson sit under his bust, which frowns down at them from a high rectangular pedestal. Mrs. Thrale (left) and Boswell (right) sit facing each other; she leans back, her head turned in 'profil perdu' towards Johnson (who looks at her); she holds a large open book, the pages headed 'Memoirs \ Life of Dr Johnson'; her pen is in her right hand. Boswell writes busily in an open book on whose left page is depicted a bear on its hind legs, holding a large stick, a chain attached to its muzzle. Between them is a small table at a corner of which Boswell writes. At its farther side, with his back to the bust, sits Courtenay scratching his forehead in perplexity, his elbow supported on a book inscribed 'Joe Miller'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image, Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Twelve lines of verse in two columns on either side of title: Three authors in three sister kingdoms born, the shrine of Johnson with their works adorn ..., Temporary local subject terms: Joe Miller's Jests., and Mounted on page 57 with one other print.
"Whitbread, his body, limbs, and head covered by tubs of varying shapes and sizes, raises a drayman's pole, to which is attached a hooked chain to smite the drooping head of a thistle with the features of Melville, his profile facing the ground; the flower forms a spiky coronet. The stem is inscribed 'Me quisque impune lacerrit' (replacing the 'nemo me impune ...' of the motto of the Order of the Thistle). Whitbread's heavy pole is 'Tenth Report'. The tub on his body is 'Wormwood', those on his legs are 'Quashee' [Quassia] and 'Aloes' (allegations of adulteration against his beer, cf. British Museum Satires No. 10574). He tramples on torn papers: 'Trial by Peers' and 'Magna Charta'. Another torn paper is 'Criminal Prosecution by the Atty General'. A large intact paper is: 'New Law Inquisition Committees Torture Question Thumb Screw Peine forte [et dure]'. On the right is a ruinous ale-house, before the door of which Fox sits astride on a large cask. He holds a big frothing tankard and watches Whitbread with cynical satisfaction. The head of the cask is inscribed 'Old Hollan[ds] For Ullage Cas[k] defict . . . Millions.' (An allusion to his father, Lord Holland, as the 'public defaulter of unaccounted millions', a gibe recurring over a long period, referring to the City Petition of 1769, cf. British Museum Satires No. 9739, &c.) Beside him a man in Highland dress, resembling Lauderdale, leans against the building, watching the outrage with frank pleasure. From a broken first-floor window leans Wilberforce, a sour sectary in a steeple-crowned hat inscribed 'Puritanism'. His hands are clasped; he says: "I say. Amen to all Cantwell." Above his head is a placard: 'Hymns & Spiritual Songs on the Slave Trade by St Wilber.' From his window projects a sign-board with a bust profile portrait of St. Vincent, hunch-backed and wearing a ribbon, inscribed 'System of Terror' and 'Hoc Signo non Vincent.' [Parodying the often-quoted in 'hoc signo vinces', the inscription on a vision of a fiery cross, to which legend attributed the conversion of Constantine. The 'non' is added inconspicuously with a caret.] On the building is a torn placard: 'performed The Tragedy Timon of [Athens] Lord Timon Mr Melville Lucullus a false friend & Kinsman Mr Kinhard [Kinnaird] little more than Kin and less than kind Scotch Reel &c.' Facing the ale-house, and on the extreme left, is the corner of the poop of a ship, the Romney. From this projects a hand aiming a blunderbuss inscribed 'Pophams Defence' at the sign-board; a blast of flame and smoke issues from it. On the ship is a board inscribed 'Wanted Supply of naval Stores Inquire within'. Below her is a faint wraith-like ship, 'Melville Castle', whose poop and (unrigged) masts are behind the drooping thistle."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Six line of verse below title: Sansterre [sic] forsook his malt and grains, to mash and batter nobles brains, by lev'lling rancour led; Our brewer quits brown stout and washey, his malt his mash tub and his quashee, to mash a thistle's head., and Mounted on page 105.
Publisher:
Published by H. Humphrey, St. James's St.
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Whitbread, Samuel, 1764-1815, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833, and Popham, Home Riggs, 1762-1820
Subject (Topic):
Barrels, Thistles, Taverns (Inns), Signs (Notices), and Ships
"Mme Mara (left) and Rubinelli (right) sing a duet on the stage. Rubinelli, tall and thin, wearing quasi-Roman dress with a plumed helmet and long cloak, leans towards Mara, his right arm extended. Mara stands full-face, her hands on her breast, singing with a distressed expression, face somewhat contorted, eyes closed."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., and Mounted on page 50.
Publisher:
Publd. 30th May 1786 by Jas. Bretherton, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Mara, Gertrud Elisabeth, 1749-1833 and Rubinelli, Giovanni Battista, 1753-1829
"A comet traverses the design diagonally and downwards from right to left across an aquatinted background; the head is that of the Prince Wales in a star, the tail contains the heads of his disappointed followers. This broadens as it recedes from the head; immediately after the Prince is the head of Sheridan, with a gloomy expression. Behind him are Fox, with a melancholy smile, and Portland, looking angry. After them comes the wig in back view of Lord Loughborough (see British Museum Satire No. 6796). Next come Stormont and (in 'profil perdu') North. They are followed by the Duke of Queensberry (one of the 'rats') holding up a quizzing-glass and Powys with his habitual melancholy scowl. Behind them are Lord Lothian (another 'rat'), Burke, with an angry frown, and the Duke of Norfolk. Between Norfolk and Queensberry is the 'profil perdu' of Derby. They are followed by Lord Sandwich, Bishop Watson of Llandaff, and Sir Grey Cooper. Next are two clerical wigs in back view identified by Miss Banks as Wilson, Bishop of Bristol, and Warren, Bishop of Bangor, while in the upper left corner of the print is the swarthy profile of Sawbridge. Beneath the title, and on the background which represents the sky, is etched: 'A Return of the Comet which appeared in 1761 [Above the final '1' of the date is a '2'.] is expected this Year and to be within our horizon from the month of Octr 1788 to Augt 1789 but is expected to be most -visible {if it forces itself upon our Notice) in the Winter months Febry & March ------ vide Dr Trusslers Almanack By some of the ancient Astronomers Comets were deemed Meteors kindled in the Air and designed as Presages or unlucky Omens of some disastrous Catastrophe------ The Peripateticks deemed them not permament Bodies but bodies newly produced and in a short Time to perish again, and affirmed that they were made up of Exhalations in the terrestrial Regions------ Sr Isaac Newton asserts That the Tail of a Comet is nothing else than a fine Vapour which the Head of the Comet emits by its heat that Heat the Comet receives from the Sun and the magnitude of the Tail is always proportional to the degree of heat which the Comet receives, and Comets which are nearest to the Sun have the longest Tails------'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched in image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Date precedes publisher's statement in imprint., and Mounted on page 67 with one other print.
Publisher:
Publd. by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Mansfield, David Murray, Earl of, 1727-1796, Sawbridge, John, 1732?-1795, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Buccleuch, Henry Scott, Duke of, 1746-1812, Powys, Thomas, 1737-1809, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Sandwich, John Montagu, Earl of, 1718-1792, Watson, Richard, 1737-1816, Cooper, Grey, Sir, ca. 1726-1801, and Lothian, William John Ker, Marquis of, 1737-1815
