A satire, divided into quarters, with four small scenes of different episodes of persons trying to collect their Christmas boxes. In the first square in the upper left, a plump supplicant in an apron holds out his hat to a scowling-faced man with a kerchief tied over his hat and a walking stick under his arm as they meet in a road outside a building with a lamp. Behind him on the wall is a sign posted "Miser'. In response to the request, the miser says "Give you a Christmass box. Curse you don't I pay you for your meat." On the top row, right, a thin man (a grave digger?) with a pipe in his mouth, bows to an obese clergyman, with a fat dog at his heel, as they stand in the graveyard of a church. The gravedigger asks, "Most worthy Parson give me a Christmass box." The Parson replies, "Give you a halter you rascal. What should I give you a Christmass box for." In the lower left, clergyman shakes his walking stick at a surprised man who is carrying a large box on his back and secured with a strap over his forehead. The clergyman says to the laborer, "If you ever ask me for a Christmass box again, I'll physic you to death." They are standing in front of building with a lantern and sign that reads "Gargle Apothycary." The fourth square, lower right, shows old, hag-faced woman with a hat and muff standing in a parlor as she slaps the face of an astonished footman. She tells him, "Take that you saucy rascal for a Xmass box!" He replies, "What's that for. I did not want a box on the ear, not I."
Alternative Title:
Christmas boxes
Description:
Title etched below image., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Mounted to: 33 x 43 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. by Wm. Holland, 50 Oxford St.
Subject (Geographic):
England. and England
Subject (Topic):
Charity, Christmas, Social life and customs, Begging (Pleading), Cemeteries, Clergy, Dogs, Milestones, Muffs, and Obesity
"Chapel interior with George III and Charlotte watching from royal box as poor figures lined up to receive charity, the men at left and women at right, members of the congregation surrounding in pews at right and chior at left"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from caption below image., Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed to plate mark leaving thread margins., and Partial watermark.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820. and Charlotte, Queen, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818.
