"An imitation of Patriotick Meteors, British Museum Satires No. 4887 (1771). Three heads, with rays or fire streaming from them, dart downwards and to the right into the gaping jaws of a monster from which issue the flames of Hell (cf., e.g., British Museum Satires No. 10011), inscribed Gulf of Oblivion. Alderman Wood is foremost, from his neck hangs a rolled document: Queen's Will. His trail of fire expands behind him from the end of his tiny pigtail, and is inscribed Wisdom [see British Museum Satires No. 13899, &c.]. Next is the profile head of Sheriff Waithman; the fiery trail expands from the end of his black bag, and is inscribed Inquest. Last is the head of a horse, with a black bag and tail like that of Waithman, inscribed Queen's Mayor [Thorpe]. Double civic chains hang from the necks of the last two."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Exitus acta probat
Description:
Title etched below image., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 105 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Waithman" and "Wood" identified in ink below image; date "14 Sept. 1821" written in lower right corner. Typed extract of sixteen lines from the British Museum catalogue description is pasted opposite (on verso of preceding leaf).
Publisher:
Pubd. by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.
Subject (Geographic):
England and London.
Subject (Name):
Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Waithman, Robert, 1764-1833, Thorp, John Thomas., and Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821
Subject (Topic):
Death and burial, Meteors, Monsters, Wills, Sheriffs, Municipal officials, and Horses