The image in the center of the plate shows a fox seated on a throne placed in an outdoor setting, with a city and a river in the background. Behind the fox, a lion holding a flag decorated with the fleur-de-lis, removes the crown from fox's head. In front of the throne lie a few dead sheep while another one is being devoured by a fox. The text added above the image explains that "The following exact copy of a print published in the year 1628 is offered for the amusement of the public with Sir Richard Hill's verses delivered in the House of Commons on Monday the 8th of March 1784, entitling them His Majesty's most gracious answer to the mover [i.e., Fox] of the late humble (...) address." and "A copy of the title-page by T. Cecill to Gomersall's 'The Tragedie of Ludovick Sforza Duke of Millan'. It decorates the centre of a plate engraved with words attacking Fox. A fox seated on a throne holding a sceptre, apparently unconscious of a lion (France) which stands behind him on its hind-legs and removes his crown. The lion (right) holds a fleur-de-lis flag. In the foreground a fox (Sforza) is worrying a sheep; behind is a group of dead sheep. The fox is seated on rising ground beside a river, on the farther shore of which is a closely built town. At the bottom of the design is engraved, 'London. Printed, for John Marriott. 1628. Tho: Cecill. sculp.' Above the design is engraved: 'The following exact Copy of a Print published in the Year 1628 is offered for the Amusement of the Public With Sir Richard Hill's Verses delivered in the House of Commons on Monday the 8th of March 1784, entitling them His Majesty's most gracious Answer to the Mover of the late humble, loyal, dutiful and respectful Address.' Hill's verses are engraved on the left side of the print, with annotations on the right; they are printed in 'Parl. Hist.' xxiv. 743-4. They profess to be George III's answer to the Address to the king to remove his Ministers, moved by Fox on 1 Mar., which the king answered on 4 Mar. Ibid., pp. 699 ff. and 717-18. Hill's line, "All hail to thee Great Carlo Khan!" is annotated: Alluding to the print of Mr Fox riding upon an Elephant in the character of Carlo Khan (see BMSat 6276). North answered Hill saying, "it was exactly that kind of idle nonsense about Carlo Khan, &c, that had misled the weak part of the country so strangely". Ibid., p. 744. Cf. BMSat 6449. In the centre, beneath the print of Sforza, is engraved: 'A Fox thus mounted on a Throne, Would give the People cause to moan, But Freemen will by Englands Laws, Support their King & Pitts great cause.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed partially within plate mark., "Price 6d.", Copy of the title page to Gommersall's The tragedie of Ludovick Sforza (...) with contemporary text added., and Mounted to 28 x 31 cm.
Publisher:
Publish'd 29th March, 1784, by Wm. Leak, 76 Wood Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806 and Hill, Richard, Sir, 1733-1808
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Foxes, Lions, Sheep, Thrones, Scepters, Crowns, and Cities & towns
"Fox as Dr. Busby birches Pitt and his supporters in a lofty hall with stone walls. Fox (left) sits under a statue of Justice which is in an alcove above his head, a birch-rod in her right hand, in the left, her scales evenly balanced. Pitt lies across Fox's knee, his posteriors scarred; he says, "O pardon me & I'll promise you on my honor that I will Honestly & boldly endeavour a reform!" Fox, his birch-rod raised to smite, says, "That's all Twaddle! - so here's for your India Task! there! there! there! & there's for blocking up the old Womens Windows & making them drink Tea in the dark! - there! there! & there's for------O I've a a a hundred accounts to settle - there! there! there! there! there! there." Those who have been already chastised are borne off (right), a sea of heads, on the backs of the Foxite party ..."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Dr. Busby settling accounts with Master Billy and his playmates
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Two lines of quoted verse below title: "Illustrious burns, might merit more regard ...", Sheet trimmed to plate mark., Mounted to 41 x 29 cm., and Watermark in center of sheet.
Publisher:
Pubd. Feby. 4th, 1785, by J. Ridgeway, Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Robinson, John, 1727-1802, Hill, Richard, Sir, 1733-1808, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and Pitt, William, 1759-1806
Subject (Topic):
Sculpture, Justice, Scales, Buttocks, Chamber pots, and Spanking
