"The three Bow Street Justices sit at a rectangular table (left); Addington in the chair, the scales of Justice, evenly balanced, above his head; on his right and on the extreme left, Bond(?) is writing: 'Wright. W. against [?]...'. The third sits resting his chin on his hands, which are supported on the head of his cane; he gazes fixedly at the culprit. 'Lying-Jack' stands in a rectangular pen formed of posts and rails immediately in front of the justices, his elbows resting on the rail, his hands clasped, his knees bent, tears falling. He says: "Oh! God dang it, - your Worship, do take bail, your Honor tw'ant my fault please your Majesty, that I com'd the Black-guard over him: - God dang it, didn't he say that his thing was printed before mine? & that all my things were only Copies & piracies? - God dang it, your Worship, Ax Almon ye Bookseller if I was a Blackguard all the while I was a Porter! - or ax ye people where I & Wife kept a small-coal Cellar in Leather Lane if I'm a Blackguard! - God dang it, was I act like a Blackguard when I let that Cooper the Printer, pull me by the Nose, only for saying he was a Liar? - god dang it, your honor, was it like a Blackguard when I offer'd to beg Ridgeway's pardon, after he had kick'd my own Arse in my own Shop? - but I sees how the Booksellers all hates me! & wants to ruin me! - & says I lives by only Copying other peoples works your Worship! - 'tho' I only 'bridges 'em! - yes your Worship, they all hates me; & respires against me: & calls me Lying-Jack, your honor, - & Filching Jack the Plagurist! - & Stock'ee Jack the Informer! your honor - ah Gad dang it! Gad dang it, - they'll be my ruin your Honor! Gad dang it Gott damn. . . .[The last words dwindle into illegibility]" From his pocket hangs a paper: 'Speech of the Lord Chanr of Ireland'. Beside him, outside the dock, is a large bundle of books tied together, the wrapper inscribed 'Ways & Means'; these are: 'Sandford & Merton', 'G Nicol... Abridgd Embassy to China', 'D. Cox, Piracy', 'Harpers Pamphlet', 'Philanthropic Society'. Against the bundle lies a porter's knot (a pad for the shoulders attached to a ring which goes over the head) inscribed: 'Lying-Jack his Knot'. With this are the implements of a blacksmith : hammer, pliers, and horse-shoe. On the wall behind him are three bills: 'Lying Jack the Thief Taker'; 'Perjury'; 'Injuntion [sic] of the Court of Chancery agains Lying Jacks copy', and a map: 'Original Map of the Island of St Domingo by W. Faden. Charing Cross.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Lying Jack the blacksmith at confession and Lying Jack the bookseller at confession
Description:
Title etched below image; the word "bookseller" is scored through and the word "blacksmith" is etched above, inserted with a caret., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Text following imprint: Price 6 d., for the benefit of the Philanthropic Society., One line of text below title: Scene: Bow Street, with Lying Jack answering a charge of abuse & blackguardism., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on bottom edge., and Temporary local subject terms: Interiors: Bow Street Court -- Emblems: scales of Justice -- Blacksmith's tools -- Bundle of books -- Porter's knot.
