"Pitt stands in front of the throne to which he points with a hand holding a number of threads attached to the noses of his supporters, who advance through a doorway, the foremost kneeling or prostrating themselves. Across his forehead is a placard inscribed 'Interest'; he says, "Approach & Salute the Broad Bottom of Royalty!!" He holds a large flag inscribed 'Standard of venality' on which are a large earl's coronet indicating Lonsdale (see British Museum Satires No. 6579), two duke's coronets, a mitre, a baron's and a viscount's coronet, and three money-bags, each inscribed 'Cole' (cf. British Museum Satires No. 6213), followed by the words 'to be Given Away'. On the ground at Pitt's feet are the words, 'Road to Preferment'. The king kneels on the throne exposing his 'broad bottom' to the Pittites; it is irradiated and to it are attached a pair of small wings; it is further adorned with Garter star and ribbon inscribed 'Honi Soit qui mal...'. He bends forward, his body in a horizontal position, so that his head and shoulders are hidden by a curtain (left) inscribed 'Secret Influence Drying Clouts! Nursing Making toast [cf. British Museum Satires No. 7923] Rocking the Cradle, &c. &c. &c.' The crowd of Pittites advances through a doorway surmounted by a large royal crown flanked by a birch-rod and a sword. Across the doorway is inscribed 'Hall of Prerogative 1784', and over the heads of the members, 'Majority of ye New P------T We are your Devoted Slaves'. Their heads are crudely drawn and few can be identified: a man in the forefront in tartan is evidently Dundas. A man full-face in the centre of the crowd who is inscribed 'Rat Catcher' and has a rat on his forehead is John (or Jack) Robinson, see British Museum Satires No. 6427, &c. Thurlow in wig and gown kneels in profile to the left, and a man on the extreme right resembles Barré. A parson in the foreground is probably Mason, cf. British Museum Satires No. 6485."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
First levee of the new Parliament
Description:
Title from item., Temporary local subject terms: Parliamentary levees -- Secret influence -- Members of Parliament as slaves -- Royal prerogative -- Homage -- 'Broad Bottom'., Watermark in center of sheet: J Whatman., and Mounted to 29 x 46 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. as the act directs, May 29, 1784, by T. Hardy, Strand
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Lonsdale, James Lowther, Earl of, 1736-1802, Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, Robinson, John, 1727-1802, Barré, Isaac, 1726-1802, and Mason, William, 1725-1797
Subject (Topic):
Thrones, Buttocks, Legislators, Kneeling, Crowns, Flags, and Bribery
