"The interior of a room in a cottage. General Gunning (left) as an old gipsy-woman, but wearing a military coat, is seated (on a drum) at a table, facing his daughter. In place of a sword he wears a broom. He seals a letter, a number of seals and a letter 'To D------ of M------' [Marlborough] are on the table beside him. Miss Gunning holds a pack of cards (the ace of spades uppermost) to her lips, saying, "I Swear that I never wish'd or tried directly or indirectly to get a Coronet; that I never saw or writ to Lord B------[Blandford] or Lord L--------- [Lorne], in all my Life; - that Men are my aversion; - & that I never had any thing to do with, with the Groom, in all my born days; - Will that do, Dad?" He answers, "Well done, Bett! we'll get thro' the Business I'll warrant you; - we can write with all sorts of hands, we've got all kinds of Seals, & with the assistance of our old Friend under the Table, we shall be able to gu them yet daughter but I must be Mum". Through a hole in the boards under the table the Devil emerges, surrounded with flames, he holds up a torch exultantly, saying "Swear!" Gunning melts his sealing-wax in the torch, the right is an open hearth over which hangs a cauldron full of coronets. Beside it (left) sits Mrs. Gunning, blowing the fire with a pair of bellows formed of a book: 'Letter to the D------ of A' (see BMSat 7983). She says: "That's right, my sweet innocent Angel! say Grace boldly! make haste my dear little lovely Lambkin! - I'll soon blow up the Fire, while Nauntee-Peg helps to cook up the Coronets; we'll get you a nice tit-bit for Dinner, before we've done, my dear little deary." Opposite her and on the extreme right an old woman, dressed in rags stands over the cauldron with a spoon, saying, "Puff away, Sister! the Soup will soon boil - law's me, how soft the Green Peas do grow, & how they Jump about in the Pot when you Puff your Bellows!" Behind her is a placard: 'Waltham Abbey - by Peg Niffy'. (Mrs. Gunning, née Minifie, was said in the Press to have written a novel called Waltham Abbey, this she denied. 'Letter . . .', p. 89.) On the wall behind Miss Gunning is a print of the pillory (the punishment for perjury) and a bill: 'Affidavit of Eliz: Canning.' Behind her father are 'The Life of a Soldier', 'The Man of Honor a Catch', and 'The useful Groom a new song'. Through a door (left) behind Gunning is seen a groom holding a horse; he says, "I'm ready to ride, or swear, or any thing". A signpost points 'to Blenheim'."--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
Peep at the conjuration of Mary Squires & the Gypsey family
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched below image.
Publisher:
S. W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Canning, Elizabeth,--1734-1773., Fores, S. W., publisher., Gunning, John,---1797--Caricatures and cartoons., Gunning,--Miss--(Elizabeth),--1769-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Gunning,--Mrs.--(Susannah),--1740?-1800--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Minifie, Margaret--Caricatures and cartoons., and Squires, Mary,---1762.
Subject (Topic):
Brooms & brushes., Devils., Fireplaces., and Playing cards.
"The interior of a bedroom, with Miss Gunning in bed (left), facing the spectator; a stout woman, her mother, holds her arm; both look round in alarm at a much-caricatured creature, Miss Minifie, who rushes towards them (right) from an open door, arms outstretched, gaping with staring eyeballs. Mrs. Gunning raises a leg in her surprise, breaking a bottle of 'Brandy' which with a glass had been concealed under her petticoats. Beneath the design is etched: 'What's the matter Auntee-Peg, what makes you put on such a long Face?"' In the upper and lower margins is the inscription: 'I was sitting by the Bedside of my smiling-injured-innocent-Lambkin, & holding one of the sweet tender hands of my amiable-gentle-dovelike-Cherub, when her Aunt came into the Room, with a face paler than Ashes, - "What is the matter, Auntee Peg" - says my dear-chaste-adorable-kind-benificent-enchanting-heart-feeling-benificent-paragon of Goodness \ She broke upon us the dishonorable-infamous-false-accusations, & the cruel most cruel messages that accompanied them, at that moment a Vow issued from my torn, my rent, my wounded, my agonizing, my suffering Heart, & my dear-divine-glorious-Arch angelic-Angel, said &c &c.'"--British Museum online catalogue.
Alternative Title:
What's the matter Auntee-Peg, what makes you put on such a long face?"
Description:
Printmaker from British Museum catalogue. and Title etched at top of image.
Publisher:
H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Auchincloss, Hugh Dudley--Ownership., Gunning,--Miss--(Elizabeth),--1769-1823--Caricatures and cartoons., Gunning,--Mrs.--(Susannah),--1740?-1800--Caricatures and cartoons., Harvey, Francis--Ownership., Humphrey, Hannah, active 1774-1817, publisher., and Minifie, Margaret--Caricatures and cartoons.
