"A scene in the Lords. A large Green Bag stands wide open on the floor before the Woolsack; John Bull, a fat 'cit', takes from it a bottle inscribed 'Imputation' [cf. British Museum Satires No. 13796]; the cork, in the form of a crown, flies up, and smoke rises. Eldon, seated on the Woolsack, one foot regally on a sack inscribed 'Mother Coal', scowls at the bottle; his mouth, like those of the other peers, is closed by a padlock, but he holds up a paper inscribed: 'My Lords-- Right or Wrong we will proceed'. J.B. faces him with arm flung back, exclaiming: "Stop--hear me first--step one Inch if you dare without my consent-- I protest against your Secret Tribunal I'll protect the Queen look at this Bottle--and look at that Reptile." He refers to a serpent wearing a royal crown and representing the King; this issues from a rent in the bag which is inscribed 'The Green Bag Opened'. Peers are grouped near Eldon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Wellington, and Liverpool being the most prominent. On the right, behind a bar, stands the Queen wearing a small spiky crown, surrounded by three counsel (Brougham, Denman, and Lushington)."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bull and the secret committee
Description:
Title etched below image. and Mounted on page 46 of: George Humphrey shop album.
Publisher:
Published July 1820 by John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830., Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Manners-Sutton, Charles, 1755-1828, Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778-1868, Denman, Thomas Denman, Baron, 1779-1854, Lushington, Stephen, 1782-1873, and Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Politicians, Legislative bodies, Interiors, Bags, Bottles, Crowns, Smoke, Locks (Hardware), and Snakes
"The House of Lords, as arranged for the Bill of Pains and Penalties, see British Museum Satires No. 13825, is seen from the right, so that the angle of the left and end walls form the centre of the design, the throne being on the right. The peers are crowded together to watch the entry of the Queen, complacently seated on a black ram with the head of Bergami; the animal wears two orders, and from its neck hangs a disc inscribed 'Santa Carolina', see British Museum Satires No. 13810. Immediately behind her walks Alderman Wood, wearing his furred gown and holding a decanter. Behind him, and in the foreground, marches Brougham, followed by Denman and Lushington. Her other followers hold long staves. A plebeian fellow in a red gown just behind the barristers may be Fellowes, her chaplain. A woman and a fashionably dressed man walking together are probably Lady Anne Hamilton and Keppel Craven, the Queen's Vice-Chancellor. From the crowd of her supporters emerges a pole supporting a cap of Liberty, and a placard: 'May our Wives be like Her' (which is against pictures of the allegations of the 'trial', see below). In the foreground (left) a ragged Savoyard sings, turning the handle of an orgue de barbarie slung from his neck. On the woolsack, in front of the peers, sits Eldon, saying "Go and Sin no more" (words quoted by Denman in his speech for the defence). On his right stands Grey, hands crossed on his breast, bowing towards the ram. Behind the Chancellor stands a peer, saying, "Innocent as our Wives." On Eldon's left stands a tall man, wearing the ribbon of St. Patrick. On the end of a bench in the right foreground sits a peer who has some resemblance to Liverpool. Behind him stands a man resembling Lord Holland. Among a crowd on the steps of the throne is Wellington. From closely seated peers (left) rises the word 'Guiltless'. In the right foreground, and screening himself by a cloth, a crouching incendiary, resembling Cobbett, holds a torch to a pile of papers. These are Addresses, with, at the base, 'Gunpowder Treason'. The other inscriptions are 'London Address', 'Leeds Address', 'Manchester Address'. The gallery (left) is crowded with spectators; against it and above the heads of those on the floor of the House is a medley of canvasses, supported on poles; on these incidents from the evidence against the Queen are depicted. [1] A Turk, Mahomet, dances (see British Museum Satires No. 13929). [2] The Princess and Bergami sit amorously together. [3] Bergami helps the Princess to dress as the Muse of History (see British Museum Satires No. 13890, &c.). [4] Bergami bathes the Princess (see British Museum Satires No. 13819, &c.). [5] Bergami and the Princess in a carriage (see British Museum Satires No. 13820). [6] The pair look from the tent on the polacca at a helmsman (see British Museum Satires No. 13818, &c.). [7] They inspect statues of Adam and Eve in a grotto ('Parl. Deb.', N.S. ii. 1094). [8] They sit together on the deck of the polacca ('ibid.', pp. 895, 920). [9] Seated under a canopy they are rowed on Lake Como. [10] The Princess dances a pas seul. Enclosed in an oval below the title are the Queen's words: "Here I am Riding on a Black Ram Like a w-e as I am, . . . Therefore I pray you Mr Steward let me have my C-n again." (By the custom of certain manors a widow who, through unchastity, had lost her freebench, or life interest in her husband's copyhold, could recover it by coming into the court on a ram, and reciting the above words ('crown' replacing the 'land' of the original), given in full in 'The Spectator' for 1 Nov. 1714.) The oval is flanked by the 'Savoyards Song' (? by T. Hook). Seven of ten verses (in the peep-show man's patter): '1. Who be dat de Ram do sit on ? Tis C- purest Q- of Briton. Who loves a Ram & Fleece to sit on. Doodle Johnny Calf.... 5. Who talk of 'Self' in dat Green Ribbon ? Oh! dat be de Man who put a Cap on To marry his W- & lives on Pension. O Vanity, Ingratitude. 6. And who in Grey do bow so civil? Oh! dat be de Great Bow Wow of de Kennel A Whig & half & half a Radical. Doodle Johnny Calf. 7. What Parson he, dat quote de Scripture To prove a W-e to be no impure? Oh! dat be de Protestant Sinecure. Doodle [&c.] 8. And who be dose Bravadoes dere, Who bawl out 'Guiltless' with great Stare? Oh! dey be de Cuckolds among de Peer, Doodle [&c.] 9. But pray, who in de chair do sit-a? Tis honest John di Cancellaria Who wants no Place, but Place to quit-a Ungrateful Johnny Calf. 10. So Sirs, we have shewn you all dose Patrons Who strip from our Eves their Fig Leaf Aprons And damn de characters of English Matrons Be wise in Time John Calf.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Theodore Lane in the British Museum catalogue., Month and year of publication separated within imprint; the month "Decr." precedes publisher's statement "Published by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.", and the year "1820" follows this statement., and Mounted on page 32 of: George Humphrey shop album.
Publisher:
Published by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's St.
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Bergami, Bartolomeo Bergami, Baron, Wood, Matthew, Sir, 1768-1843, Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778-1868, Denman, Thomas Denman, Baron, 1779-1854, Lushington, Stephen, 1782-1873, Fellowes, Robert, 1771-1847, Hamilton, Anne, Lady, 1766-1846, Craven, Keppel Richard, 1779-1851, Grey, Charles Grey, Earl, 1764-1845, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1769-1852, Cobbett, William, 1763-1835, and Holland, Henry Richard Vassall, Baron, 1773-1840
Subject (Topic):
Politicians, Legislative bodies, Interiors, Thrones, Sheep, Wine, Clergy, Crowds, Liberty cap, Organ grinders, Bowing, Torches, and Spectators
