"Pitt, very thin and elongated, poises on one toe on a tight-rope; he holds a long balancing-pole in both hands, on one end (left) sits the Sultan, on the other (right) Catherine II. The Turk, whose end of the pole is slightly the lower, clutches it desperately, saying, "My dear Billy, do help me to make another push, & I'll give you - half of my Seraglio". The fat Empress sits with her hands on her hips; she wears a crown, in her right hand is a sceptre, in her left a paper inscribed 'New Russian Conquests'. She says "Both Billy - the Flat, & yourself may do your worst you circumcised dog! get me down if you can! - I'll match you all, & swallow Thousands more!" Pitt stands with his head raised arrogantly in profile to the right; he says, "The old Hag cannot move me, & Seraglios cannot bribe me: - I have nothing to do with these matters - my Pole will always remain level - ". On the ground beneath the rope stands a dwarfish Sheridan (right) in profile to the left, grotesquely caricatured as a clown; he wears trousers and long sleeves which cover his hands and hang down. He says: "O! the Devil! the Devil! The Cow leaps over the Moon! And if I could once get up on the Rope, Lord! I'd fill my Pockets soon: - I mean, I would soon bring her down: fol der lol, fol der ol"."--British Museum online catalogue, description of an earlier state
Alternative Title:
Posterity of the immortal Chatham turned posture master
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from description of earlier state in the British Museum catalogue., Reissue, with added plate numbering. Cf. No. 7846 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 6., Date of printing based on that of Bohn's Suppressed plates., Plate probably from: Bohn, ii, 8, Suppressed plates., Text following title: Vide Sherridans speech., Sheet trimmed to plate mark, and the number "8" has likely been erased from sheet., and Temporary local subject terms: Circus performances: walking on rope -- Allusion to Russian conquests -- Clowns -- Allusion to Sheridan's speech in the House of Commons, 15 April, 1791 -- Allusion to William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778.
Publisher:
Publishd. April 21st, 1791, by H. Humphrey, N. 18 Old Bond St.
Subject (Name):
Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1729-1796, Selim III, Sultan of the Turks, 1761-1808, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"Cornwallis, [It has been suggested that he is William Monson (1760-1807), then serving under Cornwallis, but as a captain in the 52nd he was not of sufficient note in England for caricature and Cornwallis's star removes all doubt of his identity. 'Monsoon' is not a pun, see BMSat 7938.] mounted on an ass, flees terror-stricken from a fortess (right) from behind the battlements of which the grinning Tipu Sultan, holding a sabre, urinates a devastating stream upon the fleeing British soldiers (right). Two cannon belch fire and smoke from loopholes. Cornwallis, wearing his Garter star, gallops past the bodies of dead soldiers, he drops his sabre and his reins, holding up his arms; his hat flies off. His ass is muzzled by a long nose-bag."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Retreat from Seringapatam
Description:
Title from text in top part of image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Three lines of text below image: "Whats the matter, Falstaff." What's the matter! Here be four of us, have taken a city this morning. ..., and Temporary local subject terms: India -- Wars: 3rd Mysore War, 1790-1792 -- Cornwallis's retreat from Seringapatam, December 1791 -- Newspapers: satire on Cornwallis's letter in Gazette, Dec. 2, 1791 -- Literature: altered quotation from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I, ii, 4, 177 -- Military uniforms: general's uniform -- Soldiers -- Flags: Union Jack -- Fortresses -- Gun salutes -- Weapons: swords -- Asses -- Nose-bags.
Publisher:
Pubd. Decr. 6th, 1791, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805 and Tipu Sultan, Fath ʻAli, Nawab of Mysore, 1753-1799
"A huge bull, snorting fire, rushes with lowered head towards a French fort (left) from which cannon-balls descend upon him. Beneath the fort sansculottes on one knee fire at the bull while standing French soldiers, correctly dressed, also fire. On the fortress stand Frenchmen, firing and waving their hats; they shout: "Vive la republic, Blood & plunder, no Quarter to John Bull!" A huge tricolour flag has a staff surmounted by a skull. To the bull's back is strapped a bundle inscribed 'Debt Debt'. One horn has been shot off and lies on the ground. To his left hind leg is chained a heavy weight inscribed 'Subsidies'. Nevertheless, he cries: "Now my brave Allies let us all stand firm together & make a bold push, & I'll be Answerable for the Event." But behind him (right) his allies have all turned their backs and are departing in directions indicated by signposts. A fat Dutchman smoking a pipe goes 'To Amsterdam', saying, "I care not who beats, I'll join the Strongest Party". Frederick William II (father-in-law of the Duke of York) walks off 'To Berlin', saying, "I've fingerd the Cash from both Sides, & will now employ it to Secure the Partition of Poland"; "Negociate with Robertspierre privately & then - Damn Relationship!!!" Next, a Spanish don, Charles IV, goes 'To Madrid', saying, "Whats the Bourbon Family to me when they Impede my Interest. Hush!! I am now treating for a Separate peace with that Blackguard Roberspere to Secure my own Crown - I must enlarge the Powers of the Inquisition". On the extreme right Francis II and Mack in a two-wheeled gig, on which is the Habsburg eagle, are driving off 'To Vienna'. The Emperor says: "Well Mack we have made a Glorious Campaign of it; of what use are the Low Countries without they continue to fill my Coffers? As for John Bull, let him settle the business as he can he loves to be meddling"."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
John Bulls last effort to oblige his false friends
Description:
Title etched below image., Attributed to Isaac Cruikshank in the British Museum catalogue., Sheet trimmed to plate mark., and Matted to 39 x 52 cm.
Publisher:
Pub. July 17, 1794, by S.W. Fores, No. 3 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Mack von Leiberich, Karl, 1752-1828, Frederick William II, King of Prussia, 1744-1797, Robespierre, Maximilien, 1758-1794., Charles IV, King of Spain, 1748-1819, Francis I, Emperor of Austria, 1768-1835, Frederick William II, King of Prussia, 1744-1797., and Mack von Leiberich, Karl, 1752-1828.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Foreign relations, John Bull (Symbolic character), Bulls, Ethnic stereotypes, Caricatures and cartoons, English wit and humor, Pictorial, and Satire, English
"Thurlow, seated on the Woolsack, and George III who stands on the extreme left, tug at the bag of the Great Seal, while Pitt and Grenville (right) attempt to dislodge the Chancellor. The King, in profile to the right, tugs with both hands, saying, "What! What! What! - pull against me Neddy? pull against me? - no! no! no! - 'twont do! Neddy! 'twont do! leave go! leave go! Neddy - dont put me in a passion Neddy - but leave go Neddy - " Thurlow, holding one tassel, says: "Take it ingrate! - and then farewell, - O damnation I've touched the highest point of all my greatness - damnation And from that full meridian of my glory - damnation I haste now to my setting - I shall fall - damnation Like a bright exhalation in the evening - damnation And no man see me more - Damnation! O damnation" Pitt, kneeling on one knee, tugs with both hands at the back of the woolsack, saying, "Yeo! Yeo! - this one pull more Billy-Ranger, and we shall secure every thing into our own Family, and then leave me alone to take a pull at Old Nobbs [the King], & John Bull." Grenville, also on one knee, pulls with both hands at the Chancellor's wig; he says, "Bravo! Cousin Billy! - pull away! - now again! - I have a mighty fancy for this Wig! I think it would add dignity to my Ranger, & Secretaryship!"."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Sheet partially trimmed within plate mark., Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, 1475-1530 -- Nicknames: 'Old Nobbs' (George III) -- Expressions of speech: George III's 'what, what, what' -- Government officials: chancellor -- Dismissals: Thurlow's dismissal from Chancery, 1792 -- Great Seal -- Tug-of-war -- Containers: woolsack., and Mounted to 30 x 40 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. May 24th, 1792, by H. Humphrey, No. 18 Old Bond Street
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Grenville, William Wyndham Grenville, Baron, 1759-1834, and Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806
"Satire on Robert Walpole, showing the grounds for the Motion to remove him from office. In the foreground an extravagantly dressed young woman, representing bribery and corruption, distributes lucrative offices to the clergy, judges, army officers and members of parliament all of whom wear yokes about their necks and profess their loyalty to her and to Walpole's policies including, in the case of the politicians, a general Excise. At her feet is a pile of money bags, coronets, orb and sceptre, bank bills and pensions. In the background Walpole rides on a wagon in the form of a large money chest labelled "for the word "king" has been added here in a later hand] /For Secret Services /For [th]e Projector / for Friends and Assistants"; its wheels are labelled "Expence of Law &c./Penal Laws/G[i]n A[c]t/Debts/Civel List/Taxes" crush men representing "Manufactures/Trade/Honesty/Liberty"; penants attached to the waggon name taxes levied under Walpole's ministry, "Malt Ale/Tobacco Wine/Leather/Gin/Stamp/Land Tax/Candles/Soap/Salt/Coals". Walpole himself, lettered, "Volpone the Projector", stands on top of the waggon saying "Whoever flinches I'll discard"; he slices open an infant ("Sinking Fund") with a sword so that coins from its belly fall into the money chest, at the same time he blows French and Spanish ships out of Brest and Ferol into the Atlantic to frustrate Admiral Vernon's efforts in the Caribbean, while breaking wind that holds British ships in Torbay; a devil flying above, observes, "this wind is strong agt. them). The waggon is driven by "Volpone Junior" (Robert, Baron Walpole) and drawn by six yoked placemen, while the "Balance Master" (Horatio Walpole) sits on the back exclaiming, "Lawful plunder". Bishop Herring (labelled "Salty") follows the waggon acting as a recruiting officer holding a spear and encouraging, "All B[isho]ps, P[ee]rs, C[ommon]ers or others, willing to List in Projectrs Service. repair thither & meet with suitable Encouragemt."; a pamphlet of 1740, "Letter to a Member [of Parliament concerning the present state of affairs at home and abroad]" protrudes from his pocket; he is accompanied by two journalists, "Freeman" (Raphael Courteville) playing the drum and "Sidney" blowing the horn each has a copy of the "Gazeteer" in his pocket
Description:
Title etched above image., Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed to plate mark resulting in loss of imprint and verse in letterpress below the plate., Publication date from variant state described in the British Museum Catalogue., Variant state of no. 2484, with additional words added to the back left wheel of the wagon. Cf. Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires, v. 3., Truman's notes about the print are shelved as: LWL Mss Group 1 File 3., and Watermark: Pro Patria.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Walpole, Robert, Earl of Orford, 1676-1745, Herring, Thomas, 1693-1757, and Courteville, Raphael, -1772
Subject (Topic):
Taxation, Misconduct in office, Great Britain, Politics and government, Clergy, Corruption, Lawyers, and Politcians
The text, a later redaction of Lydgate's "The Kings of England Sithen William the Conqueror," is a poem chronicling the reigns of the kings of England beginning with William, Duke of Normandy and continuing to the reign of Henry VI (1422-61, 1470-71). Manuscript parchment roll, in Anglicana script with secretary influence, produced in England during the last quarter of the 15th century and At the end of the text is the "Title of France," which concerns King Philip of France and King Edward
Title from item., Date derived from printmaker's date of death., Place of publication derived from print being published in Punch., This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing., and Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Politics, British.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Graham, James, Sir, 1792-1861.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Politics and government, Drugs, Sick persons, Pubs, Pharmacists, Medicines, and Eating & drinking
Title from item., Published: The Political Register. Vol. 2, June, 1768., In lower margin: The Blood & Vitals from her Wounds he drew, And Fed the Hounds that help'd him to pursue. Dryden., British Museum description: Satirical frontispiece to the Political Register, June 1768, showing Britannia stabbed by Lord Bute, her blood caught in bowls held by Lords Weymouth and Barrington; behind on the right, Lord Mansfield hands a bowl of blood to Lord Chatham who is seated his gouty leg on a stool and holding a crutch; on the steps in front of them, Lord Talbot drinks greedily from another bowl, a spit hanging by his side instead of a sword identifies him Lord Steward of the Household; behind on the left, Fletcher Norton, in legal robes, stands drinking from another bowl, an unidentified man leans forward to look at Britannia as she falls back, and another lawyer stands behind drinking from yet another bowl., and This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Bute, John Stuart, Earl of, 1713-1792., Bath, Thomas Thynne, Marquis of, 1734-1796., Mansfield, William Murray, Earl of, 1705-1793., Barrington, William Wildman Barrington, Viscount, 1717-1793., Talbot, William Talbot, Earl of, 1710-1782., and Norton, Fletcher, 1716-1789.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Politics and government, Politicians, Blood, Crutches, Bowls (Tableware)., and Homicides
"A bearded Jew (left) points out to Fox and North the high price of stocks; he holds out to North (right) a paper inscribed '3 Per Cents Consol done at 75 for ye next opening'. North holds out his hands in dismay. Fox stands between and behind them, looking gloomily at North. The Jew stands behind a counter on which hangs a paper, 'India Stock 162 Bank Stock 241 India Bonds 50 [ ? or 59] Prem. Navy & Victualg Bills Per Cent Discount Exchequer Bills Prem Per Cent Scrip'. At North's feet lies a paper headed 'Mr Sheridans Speech upon Mr Pitts Plan of Finance'. The background is the wall of a room with arched recesses or alcoves."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Signed with the monogram of James Sayers., and Later state of: Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 6, no. 6959.
Publisher:
Publ'd [...] 1786 by Thos. Cornell, Bruton Street
Subject (Name):
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792, and East India Company.
William Pitt, acting as an auctioneer in the dissoluted Parliament, sells from the rostrum decorated with Royal Arms "useless valuables," such as "Magna Charta." Corwall, the Speaker sitting below the rostrum, records bids in the "Sundry acts." In front of him stands Thurlow in Chancellor's robes making dismissive comment on "nonsensical bidings of those common fellows," i.e. members of the House of Commons who leave through the door on the left. Last of them, Fox, turns back vowing to bid "with spirit" for lot 1, "rights of the people in 558 vol." held on display by Henry Dundas. A reference to the dissolution of the Parliament by the King on March 25.
Description:
Title etched below image., Printmaker from British Museum catalogue., Reissue for the History of the Westminster election, 1784, p. 48. See British Museum Catalogue., Sheet trimmed within plate mark with partial loss of imprint., and Mounted to 30 x 41 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 26th by W. Humphrey No. 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain, England, and Westminster
Subject (Name):
Pitt, William, 1759-1806., Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806., Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806., Cornwall, Charles Wolfran, 1735-1789., and Melville, Henry Dundas, Viscount, 1742-1811.
Subject (Topic):
Great Britain, Politics and government, Political elections, Auctions, and Clothing & dress