"The Emperor of China (left) reclines on a mattress on a low dais, smoking a long pipe and contemptuously watching, out of his slit-like eyes, Lord Macartney, who kneels on one knee, holding out the King's letter, which is signed 'GR \ WP [Pitt] Sec.' The Emperor emits a puff of smoke from a twisted mouth in a subtly insulting manner. Behind him stand two impassive mandarins, their folded hands concealed in their voluminous sleeves. Beside the dais (right) stands a soldier in armour, holding a sword in his clasped hands. The Chinese have pointed beards and moustaches, and long claw-like fingernails. Over the dais is an ornate canopy in the manner of a Chinese pagoda, ornamented with a dragon. Macartney, wearing the insignia of the Bath, kneels in profile to the left, indicating with his left hand a number of presents which have been placed at the Emperor's feet. Five members of his suite prostrate themselves behind Macartney, their heads touching the floor so that their faces are hidden and the backs of their breeches are ludicrously conspicuous. Behind are others bringing presents, the two most prominent are identified as Sir George Staunton, secretary to the Embassy, and Huttner, who published a German account of the expedition. Staunton, who is not caricatured but does not conspicuously resemble his portrait (by Engleheart, 1792, engraved C. Picart), stands full face behind Macartney, holding the string of a toy balloon decorated with the royal arms, to which is attached, in place of a basket, a cock standing on a pair of breeches. Huttner holds a magpie in a wicker cage. Men crowd behind them carrying, one, a toy coach complete with six horses, driver, postilion, &c, the whole on a small wheeled platform; another, a rocking-horse; a third holds a weathercock in one hand, a British flag in the other. The objects on the ground are: a volume of 'Boydell's Shakespeare' on which is a rat-trap; a bat, trap, and ball, dice-box and dice, a battledore and shuttlecock (on which is a crown); an oval miniature of George III, to which is attached a child's coral and bells; a toy windmill; a magic-lantern with a 'slider' (cf. BMSat 6287) which projects at each side showing devils, in the lantern is a figure of Punch; the model of a man-of-war flying a British flag, and an E.O. table."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Reception of the diplomatique & his suite at the Court of Peking and Reception of the diplomatique and his suite at the Court of Peking
Description:
Title etched below image.
Publisher:
Pubd. Septr. 14th, 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Staunton, George, Sir, 1737-1801, and Hüttner, Johann Christian, 1766-1847
Title from item., Publication place and date inferred from that of the magazine for which this plate was engraved., Dated in the British Museum catalogue: 1 August 1772., Plate from: The Oxford magazine, or, Universal museum ... London : Printed for the authors, v. 9, p. 24., and Temporary local subject terms: Devil -- Demons - Gallows -- Coronets -- Orders: Order of the Bath -- Order of the Garter -- Bags of money.
"Hibernia lies on the ground with her harp broken. On a table (left) are two money bags, one full and labelled "Exchequer", the other decorated with the Irish harp and almost empty. Into this Lord North is plunging his hand while an African with outstretched hand says: "Don't forget poor Mungo my good Ld N------h". A man in hat and laced coat is trampling on Hibernia, saying to a bystander: "Sr George we must keep her down". Sir George [Macartney] answers: "Ay my Ld T------d. [Townshend] and exert ourselves or she will be too Strong for us"."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from the index to the magazine. See British Museum catalogue., Publication place and date inferred from that of the magazine for which this plate was engraved., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Illustration to the article, The history of the late Parliament in Ireland, published in the London Magazine, v. 41 (1772)., Plate from: London magazine, or Gentleman's monthly intelligencer. London : Printed by C. Ackers, v. 41 (1772), page 3., and Temporary local subject terms: Personifications: Hibernia -- Bags of money -- Reference to the Exchequer's Office -- Reference to the Irish revenues -- Harlequin -- Blacks: politicians as blacks -- Musical instruments -- Furniture.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Dyson, Jeremiah, 1722-1776, Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806, and Townshend, George Townshend, Marquis, 1724-1807
Title from British Museum catalogue., Plate from: Baratariana : a select collection of fugitive political pieces, published during the administration of Lord Townshend in Ireland ... The second ed., corrected and enlarged. Dublin, 1773., and Temporary local subject terms: John Gore, Baron Annaly -- Godfrey Lill -- Francis Andrews -- Philip Tisdall -- Furniture: chairs.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Townshend, George Townshend, Marquis, 1724-1807, Macartney, George Macartney, Earl, 1737-1806, Cunyngham, Alexander, 1737-1783, Malone, Anthony, 1700-1776, and Hely-Hutchinson, John, 1724-1794
