"Satire on the general election of 1722 showing a grand room with two long windows and a pier glass between; to the left of this is a screen with seven folds. On the right three men, one holding a staff of office, can be discerned behind the screen reflected in the glass. From the left side of the screen an electoral candidate walks towards a voter grasping him by his right hand and with his left slipping a purse into the man's pocket. The voter is identified in the verses as a member of a corporation in a borough where only such members could vote; his leg is shackled by a chain. His wife listens to a clergyman who stands in a doorway assuring her "bribery no sin". The devil hovers over the candidate touching the voter on the shoulder and holding a blank scroll. Two boys in the foreground point to the transaction, one holding a wooden shoe, symbol of the oppressive French regime. The screen itself is adorned with little stars, at the top the years 1715-1722 are marked on the seven folds and the names of various acts passed by the previous government, "Quarantine Act .../South Sea Act/Act to indemnify S.S. V[illai]ns/Part of ye Succession Act repeal'd/Septennial Act".--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Election carried by bribery and the devil
Description:
Title from caption in ribbon above image., Questionable attribution to Hogarth in unverified card catalog record., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Four stanzas of verse below image: Here's a minion sent down to a corporate town, in hopes to be newly elected ... That betrays the whole kingdom to slav'ry.", and Imperfect impression: sheet trimmed to 162 x 175 mm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England, Scotland., and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
South Sea Company. and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1722, Membership, Quarantine, Law and legislation, Inheritance and succession, Naturalization, Political corruption, Elections, Bribery, Children, Clergy, Devil, Mirrors, Screens, and Political elections
"Satire on the general election of 1722 showing a grand room with two long windows and a pier glass between; to the left of this is a screen with seven folds. On the right three men, one holding a staff of office, can be discerned behind the screen reflected in the glass. From the left side of the screen an electoral candidate walks towards a voter grasping him by his right hand and with his left slipping a purse into the man's pocket. The voter is identified in the verses as a member of a corporation in a borough where only such members could vote; his leg is shackled by a chain. His wife listens to a clergyman who stands in a doorway assuring her "bribery no sin". The devil hovers over the candidate touching the voter on the shoulder and holding a blank scroll. Two boys in the foreground point to the transaction, one holding a wooden shoe, symbol of the oppressive French regime. The screen itself is adorned with little stars, at the top the years 1715-1722 are marked on the seven folds and the names of various acts passed by the previous government, "Quarantine Act .../South Sea Act/Act to indemnify S.S. V[illai]ns/Part of ye Succession Act repeal'd/Septennial Act".--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Election carried by bribery and the devil
Description:
Title from caption in ribbon above image., Questionable attribution to Hogarth in unverified card catalog record., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Four stanzas of verse below image: Here's a minion sent down to a corporate town, in hopes to be newly elected ... That betrays the whole kingdom to slav'ry.", Bowditch's ms. annotations on the mounting sheet; mounted to 33 x 44 cm., and Dated '1722' in unknown contemporary hand after title.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England, Scotland., and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
South Sea Company. and Great Britain. Parliament
Subject (Topic):
Elections, 1722, Membership, Quarantine, Law and legislation, Inheritance and succession, Naturalization, Political corruption, Elections, Bribery, Children, Clergy, Devil, Mirrors, Screens, and Political elections
Title devised by curator., Date based on time period when Charles Cornwallis was known as "The Lord Cornwallis"., Text within banner below shield: Virtvs vincit invidiam., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Laid in an album with spine title: Trade tokens and bookplates.