"Letters on the design refer to an 'Explanation' etched below the title. A scene on the stage of a theatre symbolizes Westminster Hall. In the foreground a large cauldron is sinking through a rectangular opening in the floor. It is inscribed 'A. \ Exit in Fumo', explained as 'The Managers Cauldron'. From it rises a dense mass of dark smoke which divides into two curving branches, one on each side of a brightly irradiated bust of Hastings. The bust looks towards the Managers' box (right) and stands on a large rectangular pedestal inscribed: 'Virtus repulsæ \ nescia sordidæ \ incontaminatis \ fulget honoribus'. The cauldron is filled with burning documents, the origin of the smoke, inscribed, respectively: 'Charge', 'Charge Presents', 'Charge of Oppression', 'Charge of Cruelty', 'Charge of Extortion', 'Charge of Peculation in Contracts', 'Torture'. These are: 'B Ingredients mix'd up by the Managers to blacken C a character out of their reach'. Standing within another rectangular opening in the floor is Burke in profile to the left, gesticulating furiously, a paint-brush in his raised right hand, a document, 'more Ingredients', clasped in his left hand. He is: 'D One of the Managers & a principal Performer who having "Out-heroded Herod" retires from the Stage in a Passion at seeing the Farce likely to be damn'd.' Above the bust are two projecting beams, each supported by an angel (as in Westminster Hall), wearing a judge's wig and gown with a scroll issuing from the mouth. The figure on the left is Thurlow, looking calmly down, his hand on his breast and saying: "not black upon my Honour." The other is Loughborough, his head turned away, showing the back of his wig only (cf. BMSat 6796), and saying: "Black upon my Honour". They are: 'K a great Critic in a high Situation, who has paid close Attention. L another great Critic, not quite so good a Judge, giving his Opinion on the other Side'. On the right is a stage-box, representing the Managers' box. From it Fox, wearing a bag-wig, leans forward, looking excitedly and near-sightedly through his glass, his hand outstretched as if to restrain Burke. Behind him is the quasi-imbecile profile of Sir James Erskine (see BMSat 7152) looking over his shoulder. On the extreme right are the backs of the heads and shoulders of two Managers who are leaving the box. Below (right) a profile looks gloomily towards the stage. Fox is 'E Another Manager a great Actor very anxious about the fate of the Farce'. The others are 'eee Other Managers very well dress 'd [cf. BMSat 7309] but not very capital performers some of them tired of acting'. Just outside the box is the profile head of Francis, his baleful stare (as in BMSat 7292, &c.) fixed on the bust. He is: 'F The Prompter, no Character in ye farce but very useful behind the Scenes.' The outside of the box ('G The Managers Box') is traversed by the winding track of a snail, beginning in '1787' and meandering past '1788', '1789', '1790', '1791', '1792', '1793', '1794', the snail's head touching '1795'. A rat has gnawed a hole in the front of the box, though which he peers; in his mouth is a ticket: 'Permit the Bearer to Pass & Repass 1787 renew'd 1795', on which are indicated the arms of Sir Peter Burrell (on all tickets of admission, cf. BMSat 7276). Above the design is a stage curtain with the usual motto, 'Veluti in Speculum'. Below the stage (right) appear, in an oblong aperture fringed with flames ('H. a Court below to which the Managers retire upon quitting the Stage.'), the head and hands of a corpse-like Devil holding a pitchfork which points directly to the Managers' box. He is 'I Usher of the Mack Rod there'. He says: "By the pricking of my Thumbs, Something wicked, this Way comes." Below the 'Explanation: The Scene lies in an old Hall (formerly a Court of Law).'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., and Mounted on page 63.
Publisher:
Published 8th May 1795 by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Rosslyn, Alexander Wedderburn, Earl of, 1733-1805, Francis, Philip, 1740-1818, and Westminster Hall (London, England)
"A view of the left side of the stage, including part of a stage box on the extreme left. From this leans a figure of Folly wearing a fool's cap with ass's ears, clapping his hands. Within the shadow of the box is the head of a staring owl (cf. British Museum Satires No. 5363). A frieze of dancing dogs (cf. British Museum Satires No. 16715) decorates the lower part of the box; above is a grinning mask flanked by dogs' heads. The capital of the Corinthian pilaster that flanks the stage is formed of dogs' heads. At its foot is a figure of Thalia covering her face with her hands. At the base of her pedestal is an open book: 'The Caravan or the Driver and his Dog a Farce.' This lies on and obscures another: 'The Critic or Tragedy rehearsed'. The front of the stage is filled with a large pool; in this a dog swims, his collar inscribed 'Carlo'; he holds the head of Sheridan above the water by his hair, saying: "------methinks it were an easy Leap" To dive into the bottom of the Deep" And pluck up drowned honour by ye Locks." ['1 Henry IV', I. iii.] Water gushes into the pool from left and right; on the righ from a mound of stone slabs on which is poised a wheeled dog-kennel. By the roof of the kennel are the heads of two enormous and camel-like dogs, muzzled (or bridled), and peering at Carlo; one partly obscures a notice-board on a post in the pool: 'Humane Socie[ty for] recovering drowning persons] It is recommended That Dog Kennels [should be] stationed at all Ho[uses of] public Entertainment for the Benefit of drowning persons.' The scenery is a water-side castle."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
New way to keep one's head above water
Description:
Title etched in lower right corner image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Text below title: Motto for the farce, And Folly clappd. his hands and Wisdom star'd. Churchill., Temporary local subject terms: Carlo -- Thalia -- Dancing Dog -- Folly -- Drury Lane., and Mounted to 33 x 41 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. 17th Decr. 1803 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Str
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Subject (Topic):
Stages (Platforms), Dogs, Owls, Fools' caps, and Masks
"A view of the left side of the stage, including part of a stage box on the extreme left. From this leans a figure of Folly wearing a fool's cap with ass's ears, clapping his hands. Within the shadow of the box is the head of a staring owl (cf. British Museum Satires No. 5363). A frieze of dancing dogs (cf. British Museum Satires No. 16715) decorates the lower part of the box; above is a grinning mask flanked by dogs' heads. The capital of the Corinthian pilaster that flanks the stage is formed of dogs' heads. At its foot is a figure of Thalia covering her face with her hands. At the base of her pedestal is an open book: 'The Caravan or the Driver and his Dog a Farce.' This lies on and obscures another: 'The Critic or Tragedy rehearsed'. The front of the stage is filled with a large pool; in this a dog swims, his collar inscribed 'Carlo'; he holds the head of Sheridan above the water by his hair, saying: "------methinks it were an easy Leap" To dive into the bottom of the Deep" And pluck up drowned honour by ye Locks." ['1 Henry IV', I. iii.] Water gushes into the pool from left and right; on the righ from a mound of stone slabs on which is poised a wheeled dog-kennel. By the roof of the kennel are the heads of two enormous and camel-like dogs, muzzled (or bridled), and peering at Carlo; one partly obscures a notice-board on a post in the pool: 'Humane Socie[ty for] recovering drowning persons] It is recommended That Dog Kennels [should be] stationed at all Ho[uses of] public Entertainment for the Benefit of drowning persons.' The scenery is a water-side castle."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
New way to keep one's head above water
Description:
Title etched in lower right corner image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Text below title: Motto for the farce, And Folly clappd. his hands and Wisdom star'd. Churchill., Temporary local subject terms: Carlo -- Thalia -- Dancing Dog -- Folly -- Drury Lane., 1 print : aquatint and etching on wove paper ; plate mark 25.1 x 31.4 cm, on sheet 26.6 x 32.6 cm., and Mounted on leaf 83 of James Sayers's Folio album of 144 caricatures.
Publisher:
Pubd. 17th Decr. 1803 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Str
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Subject (Topic):
Stages (Platforms), Dogs, Owls, Fools' caps, and Masks
"A view of the left side of the stage, including part of a stage box on the extreme left. From this leans a figure of Folly wearing a fool's cap with ass's ears, clapping his hands. Within the shadow of the box is the head of a staring owl (cf. British Museum Satires No. 5363). A frieze of dancing dogs (cf. British Museum Satires No. 16715) decorates the lower part of the box; above is a grinning mask flanked by dogs' heads. The capital of the Corinthian pilaster that flanks the stage is formed of dogs' heads. At its foot is a figure of Thalia covering her face with her hands. At the base of her pedestal is an open book: 'The Caravan or the Driver and his Dog a Farce.' This lies on and obscures another: 'The Critic or Tragedy rehearsed'. The front of the stage is filled with a large pool; in this a dog swims, his collar inscribed 'Carlo'; he holds the head of Sheridan above the water by his hair, saying: "------methinks it were an easy Leap" To dive into the bottom of the Deep" And pluck up drowned honour by ye Locks." ['1 Henry IV', I. iii.] Water gushes into the pool from left and right; on the righ from a mound of stone slabs on which is poised a wheeled dog-kennel. By the roof of the kennel are the heads of two enormous and camel-like dogs, muzzled (or bridled), and peering at Carlo; one partly obscures a notice-board on a post in the pool: 'Humane Socie[ty for] recovering drowning persons] It is recommended That Dog Kennels [should be] stationed at all Ho[uses of] public Entertainment for the Benefit of drowning persons.' The scenery is a water-side castle."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
New way to keep one's head above water
Description:
Title etched in lower right corner image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., Text below title: Motto for the farce, And Folly clappd. his hands and Wisdom star'd. Churchill., Temporary local subject terms: Carlo -- Thalia -- Dancing Dog -- Folly -- Drury Lane., and Mounted on page 101.
Publisher:
Pubd. 17th Decr. 1803 by H. Humphrey, St. James's Str
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
Subject (Topic):
Stages (Platforms), Dogs, Owls, Fools' caps, and Masks
Title and date from manuscript annotation along upper margin of print., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., and Manuscript annotation within top margin of print: Old Caricature -1808-.
Publisher:
Published as the Act directs by G. Hughes, 212 Tottenham Court Road