"Diogenes stands in the House of Commons between the two front benches; both arms are thrown out towards Burdett with a dramatic gesture; in one hand is his lantern, illuminating the patriot at close range; small clouds at his feet indicate that he is a ghost. He turns his head to look steadily at three members on the front Ministerial bench (left), saying: "An Honest Man is the noblest work of God" [Pope, 'Essay on Man', quoted by Burns, cf. British Museum Satires No. 11562]. The three culprits (unrecognizable) register shame and terror, their hair standing on end. Burdett stands by the front bench (right) on which is his hat, displaying to the frightened Ministers (one intended for Perceval) a document headed 'Magna Charta--Pro Rege, lege, grege' [see British Museum Satires No. 11547]. Except for one member on the front bench, those behind Burdett stand, five being depicted, three of whom wave their hats. All the occupants of the gallery wave still more emphatically. In the background and on the left is the Speaker's Chair; the diminutive Abbot, author of the famous Warrant, see British Museum Satires No. 11545, &c., holds up a hand in astonished alarm. Burdett was in the Tower during May, see British Museum Satires No. 11558. 'Hair on end' is an allusion to Lethbridge, see British Museum Satires No. 11538."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Ghost of Diogenes, more hair on end
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Charles Williams in the British Museum catalogue., Lettered above image: Tegg's Caricatures, No. 111 Cheapside, no. 13. Price one shillg. colod., and Text below title: Diogenes being observed looking about with a lanthorn alight a noon day, was asked what he was hunting after when he replied, for an honest man.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 1810 by T. Tegg, 111 Cheapside
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Diogenes, -approximately 323 B.C., Burdett, Francis, 1770-1844, Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Abbot, Charles, Baron Colchester, 1757-1829, Lethbridge, Thomas Buckler, 1778-1849., and Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons,
Leaf 30. Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Abstract:
"Perceval, in back view, and in barrister's wig and gown, holds a magic lantern by which he displays the Pope in the guise of a ragged beggar, for the benefit of John Bull and the King. George III is seated on the throne and looks at the screen through a telescope held by Eldon, inscribed 'Ill-done's Patent Magnifying Papascope'. The King, much alarmed at what he sees, clutches the mace which Eldon holds, with the Purse of the Great Seal attached to it. Beside the King (right) stand a bishop in back view, and a man wearing academic cap and gown. Perceval' s lantern is inscribed 'Percev[al] Humbu[g]'. Canning stands in front of it; Castlereagh beside it, both pointing at John Bull, a yokel in a smock, who has fallen to the ground in terror at the lantern-display, guineas falling from his pocket. The figure on the screen is an old man with patched robes, two keys hanging from a girdle, a sack of 'Bulls' on his back. In place of his triple crown he wears three hats like a Jewish old clothes' man, and for a crosier he has a branching stick. Close to the screen and with his back to it, Portland sits on a block of stone (cf. British Museum Satires No. 10718), talking to Hawkesbury. On the stone is drawn a wig on a block with the inscription 'Retrospective View of Portland' [i.e. as a former Whig]. In the shadow, between and behind Canning and Castlereagh, stands Melville in Highland dress; on his sporran: 'Ex Privy' [Counsellor]. Three other figures are not characterized. In the foreground a dog, its collar inscribed 'John Bull', is biting the 'Union Bill 1800', where it is headed by an Irish harp; a fragment, with the Royal Arms, has been torn off. The dog befouls a 'Catholic Petition'. On the wall is a large playbill: 'Theatre Royal St Stephens By his Majesty's Servants Feby 1807 Horrid Tragedy of Raw Head and Bloody Bones in a Red Cloak Mesrs Percivall, Canning, H-b-y [Harrowby], Portland Castlereagh Wonderful Deceptions, Messrs Proteus & Ill-done.'"--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? ...
Description:
Title from British Museum catalogue., Four lines of verse in two columns below image: What is this spectre of affright, with which they would delude our sight? A shadow thrown upon the wall, a magic-lanthorn-shew! that's all! Page 15., Artist identified as Samuel de Wilde in the British Museum catalogue., Plate from: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c. [London] : [Field & Tuer], [approximately 1868?], and On leaf 30 of: Caricatures drawn & etched by those celebrated artists Gillray, Rowlandson, Cruikshanks, &c.
Publisher:
Published by S. & H. Oddy, Oxford-Street, London and Field & Tuer
Subject (Name):
Restrike. For original issue of the plate, see no. 10962 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 8., Perceval, Spencer, 1762-1812, Pius VII, Pope, 1742-1823, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Canning, George, 1770-1827, Portland, William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, Duke of, 1738-1809, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Dundas, Henry, 1742-1811, and Harrowby, Dudley Ryder, Earl of, 1762-1847.
Subject (Topic):
John Bull (Symbolic character), Projectors, Thrones, Telescopes, Ceremonial maces, Clergy, and Dogs