"Pitt, a colossal figure (cf. BMSat 8980), bestrides the Rotunda of the 'Bank of England'. His arms and legs are very thin, but his body is formed of a (transparent) sack distended with gold coins and inscribed '£'. His elbows are akimbo, his hands grasp the sides of the sack; from the little finger of his left hand hangs a key, 'Key of Public Property'. Round the mouth of the sack is a heavy chain clasped by a padlock inscribed 'Power of securing Public Credit'. From the sack emerges the pipe-like neck down which coins are passing. Pitt looks arrogantly to the right, a blast issues from his closed lips of many paper notes inscribed 'one'. Near his mouth are a few gold coins which he is presumably inhaling. He wears a crown formed of 'one' pound notes; through it project his ass's ears. The near side of the Rotunda is removed, showing a descending shower of paper and an ascending cluster of coins which are being drawn upwards to join those in the sack. Little figures in and around the rotunda, under Pitt's legs, hold up their hands in dismay at the shower of £1 notes. Among them is a John Bull wearing a smock. Two men hold papers inscribed 'Dividend'; a Jew walks off (left) with 'Scrip'. On the left, behind Pitt's right foot, is the sea-shore; large reeds at its edge blow towards him; among these are five heads wearing bonnets-rouges, each with a label issuing from his mouth: 'Midas has Ears'. They are Fox, Sheridan, Erskine, M. A. Taylor, and (?) Grey. They diminish in size from Fox to Taylor. Across the sea is 'Brest', from which a fleet is setting out. Behind it are black clouds, and an explosion rises from them in which are swarms of tiny figures holding daggers and wearing bonnets-rouges. This spreads behind Pitt's head who appears unconscious of it. He looks down towards three almost naked winged figures: Grenville (left) and Dundas (right) hold up between them a scroll: 'Prosperous state of British Finances. & the new Plan for diminishing the National Debt - with Hints on the increase of Commerce'. Between and above them is Windham, Secretary-at-War, a pen behind his ear. He waves his cocked hat, Grenville his coronet, and Dundas his Scots cap. Beneath the title: 'History of Midas, - The great Midas having dedicated himself to Bacchus [cf. BMSat 8651], obtained from that Deity, the Power of changing all he Touched - Apollo fixed Asses-Ears upon his head, for his Ignorance - & although he tried to hide his disgrace with a Regal Cap, yet the very Sedges which grew from the Mud of the Pactolus, whisper'd out his Infamy, whenever they were agitated by the Wind from the opposite Shore - Vide Ovid's Metamorposes.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Midas transmuting all into paper
Description:
Title etched below image. 'Gold' in title scored through., Three lines of text below title: History of Midas -- The great Midas having dedicated himself to Bacchus ..., Temporary local subject terms: Money: coins -- Bank notes -- Cupids -- Brest -- French fleet., and Mounted to 46 x 33 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 9th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, and Bank of England.
"Pitt (right) stands stiffly in profile to the left, holding open a large sack-like wallet inscribed 'Requisition Budget'. He addresses John Bull, the central figure, a stout yokel, who holds out his breeches in his left hand to Pitt, while he touches his hat. The budget and the breeches pockets are full of guineas. Pitt says: "More Money, John! - more Money! to defend you from the Bloody, the Cannibal French - They're a coming! - why they'll Strip you to the very Skin - more Money. John! - They're a coming - They're a coming." Dundas, Grenville, and Burke kneel on the right, bending towards the 'Budget', each with his left hand in an opening in a vertical seam, eagerly grabbing guineas. Behind them is the stone archway of the 'Treasury', with its high spiked gate. Dundas, the most prominent, wears Highland dress and holds a Scots cap full of coins. Grenville wears a peer's robe; Burke is behind. They echo Pitt: Dundas says "Ay! Ay! They're a coming! They're a coming!" Grenville: "Yes! Yes, They're a coming." Burke: "Ay They're a coming." John says: " - a coming? - are they? - nay then, take all I've got, at once, Measter Billy! - vor its much better for I to ge ye all I have in the World to save my Bacon, - than to stay & be Strip'd stark naked by Charley, & the plundering French Invasioners, as you say". His coat and waistcoat are sound, but the pockets hang inside out, empty. His lank hair, knotted kerchief, and wrinkled gaiters denote the small farmer. Behind (left), on the shore, stands Fox looking across the water towards the fortress of 'Brest' flying a tricolour flag. He hails it with upraised arms, shouting: "What! more Money ? - O the Aristocrat Plunderer! - Vite Citoyens! - vite! - vite! depechez vous! - or we shall be too late to come inn for any Snacks of the I'argant! - vite Citoyens! vite! vite!""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull giving his breeches to save his bacon
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed to plate mark on left and bottom edges., and Temporary local subject terms: Yokels -- Money: guineas -- Treasury -- Male dress: Highland dress -- Budgets: Pitt's speech, Dec. 7, 1796
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 7th, 1796, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, and Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797
"Through the folding doors of the House of Commons rats are seen fleeing from the Opposition benches and leaping from the gallery above. In the foreground, scampering down steps leading to the lobby, are rats with human faces: Fox and 'Grey' (collar so inscribed) are first, followed by Sheridan and Erskine and little M. A. Taylor. The Speaker and the two Clerks look astounded. Pitt is speaking; he holds a paper: 'Rights of Parliamt'. Next him on the front bench sits the bulky Dundas in Highland dress, and next Dundas the tiny Wilberforce. These three, though on a small scale, are fully characterized. Behind them are the serried ranks of the Government, holding up their hands in astonishment, as do others in the gallery. A few members of the Opposition, not transformed into rats, stand behind the Speaker's chair (right). The wall of the House is damaged by rats, some of whom are escaping through holes they have made. On the wall beside the door (left) are bills: 'Virtue Triumphant or the Expulsion of Vice and Opposition Silenced.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Opposition-rats leaving the House they have undermined
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Temporary local subject terms: House of Commons -- Opposition: members of the Opposition as rats -- Parliamentary reforms: reference to Grey's motion for reform -- Parliamentary secessions.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 28th, 1797, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, and Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833
"Pitt and Dundas (in tartan), back to back, vigorously ply long whips against a herd of swine with human faces whom they drive through broken palings from the enclosure in which they stand (right). On the extreme left is the corner of a pound through which poke the heads of two (normal) swine, ringed and shedding tears. The swine who are being flogged have, beside their human heads, ringed snouts, both heads being enclosed in a wooden triangle. The leaders are Fox, with Norfolk (cf. BMSat 9205) on his right and Bedford (cf. BMSat 8684) on his left, the others are less prominent: Erskine, Tierney, looking over Fox's back, Burdett, Derby, and Nicholls (left), while M. A. Taylor (right), smaller than the others, scampers to right instead of left. Beside the pound (left) stands a grinning yokel (John Bull); on its post is a placard: 'London Corresponding Society - or the Cries of the Pigs in the Pound'. The background is a row of conical haystacks behind which is a thatched and gabled farm-house. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Swine flogg'd out of the farm yard and Swine flogged out of the farm yard
Description:
Title etched below image., Three columns of verse etched below title: Once a society of swine, liv'd in a paradice [sic] of straw, a herd more beautiful & fine, I'm sure Sir Joseph never saw ..., and Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to George III as Farmer George -- Allusion to the London Corresponding Society.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 22d, 1798, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James Street
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Bedford, Francis Russell, Duke of, 1765-1802, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Tierney, George, 1761-1830, Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Smith-Stanley, Edward, 1752-1834, Nicholls, John, 1745?-1832, Erskine, Thomas Erskine, Baron, 1750-1823, and Taylor, Michael Angelo, 1757-1834
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Farms, Haystacks, and Swine
Title from item., Statement following date of imprint: ... of whom may be had the Battle of Hastings &c., Printmaker suggested in the British Museum catalogue., and Temporary local subject terms: Taxes -- Proposal to farm the tax on post horses, 1787 -- Personification: Liberty -- Personification: Property.
Publisher:
Pub'd as the act directs for the proprietor, by W. Moore, No. 48 New Bond Street, E. Macklew, No. 9, Haymarket, & W. Dickie, Strand
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Richmond, Charles Lennox, 3d Duke of, 1735-1806, and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811
"Pitt as Death on the pale Horse rides naked on the White Horse of Hanover, galloping over the prostrate bodies of pigs; other pigs, a multitude extending to the horizon, flee before him. On the horse's fringed saddle-cloth is a crown. Pitt is very emaciated, his flaming hair streams behind him encircled by a fillet inscribed 'Destruction'. In his right hand is a large flaming sword; in his left he holds the thread-like body of a scaly monster with gaping jaws, webbed wings, and serpent's tail. Behind him on the horse's hind quarters sits a naked imp wearing the feathered coronet of the Prince of Wales, with the motto 'Ich di[en]'. He grasps Pitt, and kisses his posterior; in his left hand he holds out a paper: 'Provision for the Millenium £125,000 pr An'. The horse's tail streams out, expanding into clouds, and merging with the flames of Hell which rise from the extreme right. In the tail and flames imps are flying, headed by Dundas holding a pitchfork; he wears a wig and plaid with horns and webbed wings. Behind are three imps: Loughborough, indicated as usual by an elongated judge's wig in back view (cf. BMSat 6796); Burke with webbed wings and serpent's tail; Pepper Arden [Identified by Wright and Evans as Lord Kenyon. The identification in the text is confirmed by Lord Holland.] wearing a large wig. In the foreground (right) Pitt's opponents are being kicked towards Hell by the horse's hind legs. Fox has just been violently struck in the face, and staggers backwards, clutching a paper inscribed 'Peace'. Sheridan lies prone, face downwards, hands raised, as if for mercy. Wilberforce sits on the ground clasping his 'Motion for a Peace' (see BMSat 8637). Behind Fox Lansdowne looks up from the ground, clenching his fists. On the extreme right the Duke of Norfolk, Lord Stanhope, and the Duke of Grafton are about to plunge into the flames: Fox in falling is pushing them over. ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Two lines of text below title: And e'er the last days began, I looked, & behold, a white horse, & his name who sat upon it was Death ..., and Mounted to 36 x 42 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. June 4th, 1795, by H. Humphrey, N. 37 New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Stanhope, Charles Stanhope, Earl, 1753-1816, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Brothers, Richard, 1757-1824, and Halhed, Nathaniel Brassey, 1751-1830.
"The King and Queen, seated on the throne (left), receive with astonished horror a deputation from Turkey. An arrogant Turk stands proffering a large rolled document with pendent seals on which are crescents: 'Powers for a new Connexion between the Port, England & France'. Beside him (left) another Turk grovels on the ground. Fox and Sheridan, kneeling with crouching humility, hold up the long cloak of the Turkish emissary; their bonnets-rouges are decorated with crescents. Behind them Priestley bows low (right). Turks with spears and banners stand behind him. To a spear topped with a crescent is attached a tricolour flag inscribed 'Vive la Republique'. Pitt, a naked mannikin, one foot on the royal dais, clutches the King's knee in terror: a chain from his wrist is attached to a royal crown lying on the ground. Behind him, and beside the throne, stands Dundas in Highland dress, tall and impassive, holding a pike. The King and Queen are much caricatured: the King stares, biting his fingers and clutching the Queen; she puts her fan before her face but looks through its sticks (as in BMSat 9528) at the Turks. The three elder princesses (not caricatured) peep from behind the throne on the extreme left."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Final resource of French atheists
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local subject terms: Turkish ambassador -- Crowns -- Thrones -- Male costume: bonnet rouge -- Female costume: fans -- Pets: Pitt as a monkey -- Turks -- Royal princesses., and Incomplete images of two prints on verso: The Monster Broke Loose, or, A Peep into the Shakespeare Gallery and The Vulture of the Constitution.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 26th, 1793, by H. Humphrey, N. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Charlotte, consort of George III, King of Great Britain, 1744-1818, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804, and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark at top., and Temporary local subject terms: Scots -- Male costume: Scottish -- Domestic service: Scottish footmen -- Scottish porters -- Scottish stewards -- Snuff -- Reference to the House of Commons -- Reference to the Parliament -- Baron's coronet.
Publisher:
Pub. April 22, 1794 by Willm. Holland, No. 50 Oxford Street
Heads of the members of the new ministry stand on wig blocks in a barber's shop. The barber washes his hands in a bowl attached to a double stand with the bewildered looking head of Lord North and the happily smiling one of Charles Fox on it. Behind them stand blocks with the heads of the Duke of Portland, Lords Cavendish, Stormont (David Murray), Carlisle, and Admiral Keppel. Samuel House, a well known Fox supporter, and a plebeian politician, is seated, with his tankard in his hand, in a chair placed next to Keppel's head. The head of Burke behind him wears an unhappy expression, perhaps at the distance between him and the other cabinet members. Behind the barber on the floor lie the discarded heads of former ministers, the Duke of Grafton, Lord Shelburne, and Dundas. Above on the wall are mirror images of Charles I and Cromwell, ready to embrace each other. "A new Map of Great Britain and Ireland" above the fireplace is torn between Ireland and the British Isle on which the name 'England' is conspicously absent below Scotland and Wales
Alternative Title:
Heads of a new wig ad-----------n on a broadbottom and Heads of a new wig administration on a broad bottom
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Watermark: countermark I V., and Some subjects identified by DeGrey below plate mark.
Publisher:
Published 21st April 1783 by Thomas Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and London
Subject (Name):
Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649, Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Cavendish, John, Lord, 1732-1796, Mansfield, David Murray, Earl of, 1727-1796, Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825, Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, House, Samuel, -1785, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Norton, Fletcher, 1716-1789, and Dunning, John, Baron Ashburton, 1731-1783
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Barbers, Barbershops, Boxes, Wigs, and Maps
Heads of the members of the new ministry stand on wig blocks in a barber's shop. The barber washes his hands in a bowl attached to a double stand with the bewildered looking head of Lord North and the happily smiling one of Charles Fox on it. Behind them stand blocks with the heads of the Duke of Portland, Lords Cavendish, Stormont (David Murray), Carlisle, and Admiral Keppel. Samuel House, a well known Fox supporter, and a plebeian politician, is seated, with his tankard in his hand, in a chair placed next to Keppel's head. The head of Burke behind him wears an unhappy expression, perhaps at the distance between him and the other cabinet members. Behind the barber on the floor lie the discarded heads of former ministers, the Duke of Grafton, Lord Shelburne, and Dundas. Above on the wall are mirror images of Charles I and Cromwell, ready to embrace each other. "A new Map of Great Britain and Ireland" above the fireplace is torn between Ireland and the British Isle on which the name 'England' is conspicously absent below Scotland and Wales
Alternative Title:
Heads of a new wig ad-----------n on a broadbottom and Heads of a new wig administration on a broad bottom
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., and Mounted on page 27.
Publisher:
Published 21st April 1783 by Thomas Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and London
Subject (Name):
Charles I, King of England, 1600-1649, Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Cavendish, John, Lord, 1732-1796, Mansfield, David Murray, Earl of, 1727-1796, Carlisle, Frederick Howard, Earl of, 1748-1825, Keppel, Augustus Keppel, Viscount, 1725-1786, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, House, Samuel, -1785, Grafton, Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of, 1735-1811, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Norton, Fletcher, 1716-1789, and Dunning, John, Baron Ashburton, 1731-1783
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Barbers, Barbershops, Boxes, Wigs, and Maps
