"Several scenes combined in one design. The Associations of various counties to present petitions and form committees to demand reforms are represented in the upper right portion of the plate: A procession of men walks (right to left), their leader holding a standard with the arms of the county inscribed "County of York 30 Decr 1779" (the date of the meeting at which it was agreed to present a petition and prepare a plan for an Association to secure reform). He holds a paper inscribed "Petition" and says, "Virtue & Fortitude shall Guide us". Representatives of the other petitioning and associating counties follow, with the appropriate dates on labels issuing from their mouths: ...". The last man carries an ensign flag on which is inscribed "London Newcastle upon Tyne Bristol Westminster &c. &c. &c." Beneath the procession is engraved "Immortal Gods! What Honor waits the men who save their Country from impending Ruin." The leader is probably intended for Sir George Savile. On the left George III is seated in his closet; a young man stands before him addressing, not the king, but an imaginary audience, saying, "The only Patriot His Power is too Confined". This is perhaps intended for Lord George Gordon's private interview with the King on 27 Jan. 1780; ... . Outside the door of the royal closet and facing the petitioners is a monster with wings and three heads, breathing fire. In the lower right, ... Britannia sits on a ruinous stone pedestal which is being further undermined by a female figure with a forked tail and the legs of a satyr; she is applying a lever to its base saying, "And shall not I, Corruption is my name, Undermine the British Constitution". Lord North attacks the pedestal with a pickaxe, saying, "I will assist you Sister in the same Design". Bute, in Highland dress with the Garter ribbon and star, flourishes a broadsword, while he takes from Britannia the staff and cap of Liberty; he says, "Away wi ye to the Deel Where is your Liberty now". Britannia, holding her shield and 'Magna Carta', says to the marching petitioners above her head, "Tis you alone my Friends who can revive my Drooping Hopes & save me from Distraction". Behind Britannia (left) and in a glory of rays stands a man inscribed "Chatham" with outstretched arms, saying "O Cleanse Yon Augean Stable". He points towards the design beneath the king's closet. This represents the House of Commons (left); the Speaker in his chair, members seated on each side of a table. It is seen through two pillars, up one (right) climbs an alligator, round the other is a serpent with a branch of apples in its mouth. Above is inscribed "Ruled by Powerful Influence". A procession of members walks (left to right) from the House up a path leading to the door of the king's closet above. They carry scrolls inscribed "25 000"; "5000"; "£40,000"; "15,000 £10,000, £50 000". One says, "Secure in the Enjoyment of Places Pensions & Emoluments of Office we fear not the Clamour of Yorkshire Clodpoles"; another says, "God help the Rich the Poor can beg". Their leader carries an "Address of Thanks". Beneath this gang of ministerialists a mythological figure leaning against an anchor and a gushing water-conduit (? Neptune) says,"Is there not some Chosen Curses, ... Public Treasure Wasted in Corrupting the Morals of the People". He is saying, "No New Taxes but a Retrenchment of Public Expences.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Public virtue displayed in a contrasted view
Description:
Title from item.
Publisher:
Printed for Danl. Wilson at No. 20 Portugal Street Lincolns Inn
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Savile, George, Sir, 1726-1784., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792., Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778., Gordon, George, Lord, 1751-1793., and Neptune (Roman deity),
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, Politics and government, Britannia (Symbolic character), Petitions, and Dragons
"George III guides (left to right) a plough which is drawn by a snorting bull; he is blindfolded and wears a crown and the garter ribbon; from his pocket hangs a fragment of "Magna Charta". Lord North rides on the bull, urging him forward with a whip, attached to his shoulders is a knapsack or bundle inscribed "Ways & Means". Another man goads the bull with a spear. A Scot in highland dress, probably Gordon, tugs violently at the bull's harness, trying to pull it back; two other men who have been tugging at the bull have fallen to the ground and the wig of one has fallen off. The bull is advancing towards the "River Tweed" (right), on the farther side of which are a large thistle and some fir trees on a hill. This shows that Scotland has not as yet been ploughed up for the emissaries of the Pope, see BMSat 5534. In the foreground (left) lies a sleeping bishop, his head on his hand, holding a crozier, and leaning on a book and a "Map of Bishoprick". Behind him and the king a Jesuit, a Catholic priest, and a monk are sowing in the ground which has been already ploughed. Above their heads the Pope is seated on clouds which are supported by a swarm of demons and imps. He wears his triple crown, a royal crown is suspended over his head; in his right hand is a crozier to which are attached keys, in his left hand is a sheaf of thunderbolts. At his side is an inverted cornucopia, pouring out documents inscribed "Absolutions", "Persecutions", "Releases from Purgatory", "Pardons for Money", "Excommunications", "Curses on Heriticks", "Indulgences", "Bulls", "Confessions". Truth, an almost nude female figure, stands upon clouds (right) surrounded by a glory of rays; on her breast is a face surrounded by rays. She holds up a large scroll inscribed "40000 English Protestants massacred in Ireland 1641 Protestants burnt at Smithfield in the reign of Queen Mary. Gunpowder Plot or an attempt to blow up the Parliament House Protestants massacred at Paris, in the Vallies of Piedmont. Tortures of the Inquisition." Beneath the design are the dedication and explanation: "To the Respectable Association of Protestants & to every Worthy supporter of both Church & State this Plate is Dedicated by their Humble Servt the Publisher. Explanation. The State Husbandmen Plowing up the glebe of the Constitution, whilst the Popish Emissaries take the Advantage of the supineness of the Established Church who is fast asleep in the Vineyard where its grand Adversary the Pope, and all his host of Devils, are permitted to Sow the Seeds of their Pernicious Doctrine: Opposition attempts to stop their Progress, but the band of Unanimity is broke, & they have fallen off. Truth descends, showing a Scroll of Melancholy proofs of popish cruelty, Soliciting the Aid of her Friends, to vanquish the Inveterate Enemy, who threatens the Ruin of thair Religion, thair Posterity & thair much injured Country."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Trimmed within plate mark., Attributed to Gillray in British Museum catalogue., and Publisher's name and address burnished from plate. Publisher identified in British Museum catalogue as W. Humphrey, Printseller, Strand, London.
Publisher:
Published June 2 1780 by W [... ] Printseller [...]
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792., Gordon, George, Lord, 1751-1793., and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Papacy, Gordon Riots, 1780, Clergy, Demons, Plows, and Bulls
Title from item., Title etched below image., Publisher's initials form monogram., Sheet trimmed to plate line., and Date of possible publication from British Museum catalogue. Reissue by a different publisher.
Publisher:
Pub. by HHumphrey, No. 18 New Bond Strt
Subject (Name):
Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797., George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., and Gordon, George, Lord, 1751-1793.