"Three men shear four rams with human faces and long spiral horns. The first (left), still unshorn, has the bottle-nose and drink-blotched face of Curtis; a large bell hangs from his neck; he bleats B A A A A A A. His shearer says: Come along you Blubber--alias Bell Weather S'Blood what a Cur 'tis; in his pocket is a paper: Quintus Curtius. He is Quin, who took an active part against Flower. The second, Councillor Waithman (a draper), holds Flower, the Mayor, labelled The Flower of the Flock, who is almost shaved; he says: Egad I have Cut them preelly [sic] close; his shears, like those of Quin, are inscribed Vox Popula [sic]. The third, Alderman Harvey Combe, uses a comb. He holds Alderman Price and says to Waithman: Ne'er Wait man I have Combed them well--. Price says: N'o Blubber Sperm fetches the best Price. Beside him is another ram (Shaw), completely shorn and dejected; it says: Pshaw I can never Stand upright in the presence of a great Mon but always Keep Booing, booing [cf. British Museum Satires No. 11306]."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Isaac Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Watermark: Ruse & Turners 180[5?].
"Seven Aldermen, with ass's ears, sit in conference (a meeting of the Court of Aldermen) in Guildhall wearing their furred gowns. The table is covered with a cloth on which are the City Arms and motto, 'Domine Direge [sic] Nos', but a turtle replaces the griffin as the sinister supporter. The arcaded wall, showing the lower part of the windows (with the City Arms), forms a background. The table is flanked by the statues of the giants, 'Gog' (left) and 'Magog' (right), on pedestals. The former, holding a staff with a spiked ball dangling from it, asks: "I say Brother what do you think of our City Asses." Magog, holding pike and shield: "Why I think Brother Gog they are a set of D--n'd Stupid Blockheads." Five Aldermen are on the farther side of the table. The other two sit facing each other at the opposite ends. In the centre sits Bridges; he says: "As late Mare I should be a Great Ass if I did not differ from those Radical Individuals who trust in their own confidence-- I say the Q--n must not go to St Pauls." On his right is Curtis, the largest and most prominent, who says with raised forefinger: "We shall have a speedy Revolution and soon [see British Museum Satires No. 11306], if she is allowed to come into the City-- I protest on my part against prayers of any description." The man at the head of the table says: "No Prayers by St Paul I say for one." The Alderman next him asks: "Where is our friend At--ns, he knows all about burning the Thames" [see British Museum Satires No. 13272]. The others (left to right) says: [1] "Let me see--Keep her out by all means." He stares through an eye-glass, shutting one eye. [2] "Oh dear we shall all be ruined if she comes." [3] "If the Q--n is prayed for we are all dished by Goles--I'll have the Caracatures taken out of the Windows." In the upper margin: 'List of the Wise Men--G. Br--s, Billy Blubber [Curtis], C. Fl--r. [Sir Charles Flower, see vol. viii], G. Sc--y [Scholey, see British Museum Satires No. 12038, &c.], S B--h [Birch, see vols. vi-ix], C. Ma--y [Magnay], W. H--y--e [Heygate].' [This list is in the order of the signatures to their letter of 28 Nov.]."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Seven wise men of the East, prophesying before Gog and Magog of a row in the city, November 29th, 1820
Description:
Title etched below image., Mounted to 58 x 39 cm., Mounted (with one other print) on leaf 36 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Date "Dec. 1820" written in black ink in lower right corner. Above the censored "List of Wise Men" at top of image are annotations in brown ink that name the men: Aldn. Bridges, Curtis, Flower, Scholey, Birch, Magnay, Heygate.
Publisher:
Published December 1820 by J. Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821., Bridges, George, approximately 1762-1840, Curtis, William, Sir, 1752-1829, Flower, Charles, Sir, 1763-1834, Scholey, George, -1839, Birch, Samuel, 1757-1841, Magnay, William, 1767-1826, Heygate, William, Sir, 1782-1844, and Guildhall (London, England),
Subject (Topic):
Interiors, Tables, Robes, Coats of arms, Sculpture, Arms & armament, City council members, and Hand lenses
