"Fox and Sheridan (left) sit together at the head of a rectangular table on which is a punch-bowl, &c, looking with dismay at whigs (right), who advance to hurl their wigs at a large pile of wigs on the left (inscribed 'The Heads having Scratched out of the Club'), or retire, having already done so. Fox and Sheridan wear enormous wigs, the former says, "Brother: Brother: we are all in the wrong" ... Before Fox is a list with names scored through. Sheridan grasps a bottle of 'Sherry'. A couple advance together, in the act of hurling their large wigs at the pile; one says, "I will Scratch out my Name in hopes of getting in for the City" (probably Nathaniel Newnham, returned for the City 1784, but defeated in 1790, cf. British Museum satires no. 7162). The other is perhaps Windham. The only one of the retiring wigless Whigs who is characterized is Burke. All say: "We have erased our Names for ever from the Club, when the Artful & Ambitious designs of a Faction are carried on under a Mask of Prudential Reform & when the leading Members are Notoriously known to Carry on a secret Correspondence with the Avowed Enemies of the Constitution they Affect to Support & Defend it is high time for all prudent & real friends to that Constitution to leave them to their Just Punishment, the Contemp of all true Friends to their King and Constitution."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Crack in the Wig Club
Description:
Title etched below image., Artist and printmaker unidentified; attributed to Isaac Cruickshank in the British Museum catalogue., Imprint continues: ... where may be had complete setts of Caricatures on th [sic] French Revolution & on every popular subject. An exhibition admt 1s. in which is a correct model of the guillotine 6 feet high., With publisher's hand-coloring., From a Humphrey's blue paper 'shop' album; price and identities written in ink in the margins, probably in the hand of James Gillray on front. See Andrew Edmunds' description., and On the back, a red stamp with a florish above 'SMP'. Also in black in, in upper left corner "Benier' and in the right corner 'AR'.
Publisher:
Pub. March 17, 1793, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly ...
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816, Windham, William, 1750-1810, Newnham, Nathaniel, approximately 1741-1809, and Whig Club (London, England)
Subject (Topic):
Eating & drinking, Quarreling, Taverns (Inns), Wigs, Whig Party (Great Britain), and Politics and government
"Norfolk (left) and Fox (right) sit close together, hands on knees, the left knee of Norfolk and the right knee of Fox touching; their heads are turned in profile, each gazing fixedly at the other with a melancholy expression. On the back of Norfolk's chair is a ducal coronet; Fox sits on a stool. At their feet is an open book: 'List of his Maje[stys] \ Privy Council \ Earl of.. Lord.. \ Duke of D...\ Earl of... \ Rt Hon. C. J. Fox [scored through] Duke of Leed[s]'. By Norfolk is a torn paper: 'Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding York . .' Under Fox's feet: 'A Seat in Parliament to be disposed off enquire at next General Election'. Under this is another paper: 'Speech Whig Club'. Their words (or thoughts) are etched beneath the title (left): 'Charley, keep a civil \ Tongue in your Head'. (right) 'Jocky of Norfolk \ be not so bold'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Leaf 64 in an album with the spine title: Characatures by Dighton., 1 print : etching and stipple engraving on laid paper, hand-colored ; plate mark 20.1 x 15.0 cm, on sheet 31.1 x 25.5 cm., and Watermark, trimmed: [E]dmeads 1808.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 25th, 1798, by Dighton, Charg. Cross
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Leeds, Francis Godolphin Osborne, Duke of, 1751-1799., and Whig Club (London, England)
"Norfolk (left) and Fox (right) sit close together, hands on knees, the left knee of Norfolk and the right knee of Fox touching; their heads are turned in profile, each gazing fixedly at the other with a melancholy expression. On the back of Norfolk's chair is a ducal coronet; Fox sits on a stool. At their feet is an open book: 'List of his Maje[stys] \ Privy Council \ Earl of.. Lord.. \ Duke of D...\ Earl of... \ Rt Hon. C. J. Fox [scored through] Duke of Leed[s]'. By Norfolk is a torn paper: 'Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding York . .' Under Fox's feet: 'A Seat in Parliament to be disposed off enquire at next General Election'. Under this is another paper: 'Speech Whig Club'. Their words (or thoughts) are etched beneath the title (left): 'Charley, keep a civil \ Tongue in your Head'. (right) 'Jocky of Norfolk \ be not so bold'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Mounted to 32 x 25 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 25th, 1798, by Dighton, Charg. Cross
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Norfolk, Charles Howard, Duke of, 1746-1815, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820., Leeds, Francis Godolphin Osborne, Duke of, 1751-1799., and Whig Club (London, England)
