"A fantastic scene takes place in a cobbled street between two buildings: a large house (left) with the words 'London / Coffee / House' in huge letters above the ground, first, and second floors respectively; and (right) 'The London Tea House' on a façade above the shop-front of the 'Genuine Tea Company' [at 23 Ludgate Hill]. From a centre first-floor window of the latter steps a winged figure resembling Fame, blowing a trumpet from which issue the words 'No Adulteration'. A Chinese, resembling the figures on the trade-cards of tea-dealers, who seems to have walked out of the shop, holds a firebrand inscribed 'Pro Bono Publico' to an open tea-chest inscribed 'Chinese Gunpowder', the contents of which are exploding in flashes inscribed 'Genuine Tea' and terminating in black clouds, so as to tilt over a huge kettle inscribed 'Steam Engine' (which fills the greater part of the design and against which also Fame directs her blast), from which rise clouds of steam surrounding many little men who look out of the (lidless) kettle. The spout is inscribed 'Exchequer' and from it men (tea-dealers) are being poured head first into a china tea-pot (left) on which is a Chinese pattern: a tree with two branches, one inscribed 'To the Ks Bench', the other (in reversed characters) 'To Newgate'. One exclaims: "There was No Tea in the composition!!!!! yet they fined me £2320!!!" Another: "It's never too late to mend." Round the tea-pot lie bundles inscribed respectively: 'Clover & Ash'; 'Sloe leaves'; 'Verdigrease'; 'Potatoe Parings'; 'Dutch Pink'; 'Elder leaves'. Behind the spout is the word 'Bohea'. Other tea-dealers are falling from the kettle; one says: ""I wish to retrieve my Character" / "and I think that it is fair we / should All be Tarred" / with the same Mop.!!" vide report of the Meeting." Another: "We have been togathe [sic] & we'll go togather." In the centre of the tea-dealers emerging from the kettle is one represented by a chair with human head and arms, showing he is their Chairman (one Bedwells) and that a meeting of tea-dealers is represented: he holds out a paper: 'Tea paper Resolved--00000 Resolved--00000'. He says: "Gentlen, Unless we can make our Tea, a little better, depend upon it, we shall all go to pot! I am quite affected by it already-- but I hope I shall go to Bed-well." Beside him is a canister inscribed 'Ludgate Hill Gas'; on this sits a bird, chirping up at him. One of his audience says: "Aye, aye, we shall all be Dished"; another asks: "who calls, me a-ber-y." A man answers: ""I, said the Sparrow" vide Cock Robin." A man with an axe for head (? Axford): "I wish to Ax, if anybody can afford to sell cheaper?" The other speakers appear also to indicate their names: "Sharps the word"; "I'll be Secretary, for I'm the Man for a Brown Study"; "who talks about sloes & black Berries"; "Come down with your Dust: I'm Treasurer"; "This is a bad Day for us--O, it will play the devil with us this Winter"; "Let's Marshall ourselves against this new Tea Compy"; "I lament this exposure, it makes me as melancholy as a Gibbs [the s scored through] Cat." Some look from the right of the kettle towards the new shop: one (? Shaw) says: "who cares a Button?--'Shaw!"; others: "Let's throw as much dirt at Concern [sic] as we can"; "Take care you don't splash your self"; "That's right! [? Wright] pelt away, never mind dirtying ourselves." Other speeches rising in the steam are: "Mr Chair man I consider this a Second Gunpowder plot it is evidently so as they opened on the 5th of November"; "Suppose we meet in Holborn"; "Although the Names of certain persons have been suppressed in the public prints there is no doubt but the Commissioners of Excise will give facility to the exposure of every delinquent coming under thier notice--see report of the Meeting." A little boy stands below looking up at the kettle; he says: "My eye! how the scum bubbles up to the top!" On the ground (right) sits a street-seller with a large bundle of papers under her arm inscribed 'Resolutions of the T. Trade--&c &c.' Beside her are other papers: 'Resolutions, &c.' and 'Tea Paper'. She holds out a straw, saying, "Who'll buy my ha'porth of Straw?-- for my part, if I could get good Tea I should not care a straw who I bought it of!" Customers enter the shop of the 'Genuine Tea Company'. One lady on the pavement meets another, saying, "I am going to mak a purchase of this New tea Company." Her friend answers: "I have just been we may now I think ask each other to a Cup of Tea!" A grotesque dandy, in short loose trousers over high boots, inspects the shop through a glass, saying, "Excellent! establishment pon honor!!", while an old woman in a red cloak hurries in at the door, saying, "Now for a Good Cup of Tea once more." A dog of dachshund type with 'Tim' on its collar barks at this group."--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Tea trade in hot water! and Pretty kettle of fish!!!
Description:
Title etched below image., One line of quoted text above image: "The nefarious & abominable practice of mixing teas with various cheap ingredients of the most poisonous qualities, has already been sufficiently exposed; "!!!--" because their practices are calculated to produce disease, if not death" - vide Observer, Novr. 8th, 1818., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 14th, 1818, by G. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Title etched below image., Dated from Thurlow's impending dismissal and the introduction of Fox's Libel Bill., Description based on imperfect impression; sheet trimmed within plate mark with possible loss of imprint., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Temporary local subject terms: Allusion to John Horne Tooke, 1736-1812 -- Allusion to Honoré-Gabriel-Riquetti, comte de Mirabeau, 1749-1791 -- Allusion to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette -- Travestied slogans: God save the King -- Horace Walpole refers to subject in print, YW 34. 141-142, n. 5 -- Nicknames: "Sherry" for Richard Brinsley Sheridan -- "Renard" for Charles James Fox -- Allusion to National Assembly -- Literature: Allusion to Reflections on the French Revolution by Edmund Burke -- Allusion to The rights of man by Thomas Paine -- Bible quotation: "Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin," Daniel v. 25 -- Hand of Providence -- Royal money as weight -- Great Seal -- Revolutionary societies -- Thurlow's impending dismissal -- Bills: Libel Bill -- Parliamentary reform -- Allusion to French Revolution -- Travesties: French Revolutionary playbill -- Expressions of speech: George III's "What, what, what" -- French Revolutionary cockades -- Winged head of cherub -- Balance -- Whigs -- Tories -- Double entendres -- Allusion to Regency crisis -- Clergy: Allusion to leveling -- Jacobins -- Symbols: Scale of merit -- Pitt's usurpation of prerogative., Watermark: L.V.G., and Numbered in pencil in upper right corner of sheet: 449.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806, Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797, Pitt, William, 1759-1806, Thurlow, Edward Thurlow, Baron, 1731-1806, and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816
"The beam of a pair of scales supported on a post, from each end of which, instead of a scale, dangles a man as if from a gibbet. On the centre of the beam is perched an owl wearing a ribbon and star, inscribed "Center of Gravity". On the lighter side (left) hangs a man over whose eyes a fool's cap has been drawn, through which protrude ass's ears. In his right hand is a "Plan for enlarging Newgate", in his left a copy of the 'General Advertiser'. On the right hangs a man in parson's gown and bands, his eyes covered by a turban-shaped cap; in his left hand is a copy of the 'Morning Post', in his right a newsboy's horn, from which issues a blast inscribed "Blast ye", directed against the other body hanging from the gibbet. On his breast is a playing-card, the knave of clubs. Over his head are falling a castle, two churches, and two mitres. He is Bate, editor of the 'Morning Post', noted as a bruiser, see BMSat 5550, &c. On the ground stand two figures pointing to the gibbet: Justice (left) leans on her sword, holding her scales, above her head is engraved: "Grave wisdom takes the centre of the Beam, And leaves to Knave & Fool, the wide extream." The owl perhaps represents North, often accused of unseemly levity, and his attitude towards Ministerial journalists. The Devil (r.) stands holding a coffin on which is a skull and cross-bones surmounting a freely sketched inscription suggesting the words "Here lies P[arson] B[ate]" and two reversed mitres. He points grinning to Bate; above his head is inscribed, "Here I wait; To take my B------.""--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from item. and Trimmed to design.
Publisher:
Publish'd May 8, 1780, by W. Renigald
Subject (Geographic):
England and London
Subject (Name):
Cooke, William, active 1776-1780., Dudley, H. Bate Sir, 1745-1824. (Henry Bate),, and North, Frederick, Lord, 1732-1792.
Title from item., Publication date from an unverified card catalog record., Possibly from the same series as: Paddy O'Blarney. [London : Laurie & Whittle, 1796]., Sheet trimmed within plate mark at bottom resulting in loss of imprint., Temporary local subject terms: Female costume, 1790 -- Cherry venders -- Door knockers., and Window mounted to 37 x 30 cm.
Two medallions side-by-side contrast British Liberty and French Liberty. On the left Britannia is seated under a large oak looking out to sea at a ship under full sail. At her feet lies the British lion, in her hands the scales of justice and a copy of the Magna Charta. On the right French Liberty, Medusa-like, tramples on a decapitated body, as she holds a trident impaled with a head and two hearts. In the background a body hangs from a street lamp shaped like a gibbet. Beneath the images, a list of contrasting virtues and vices of the two countries
Description:
Title etched above images., Printmaker, artist, and publication date from British Museum catalogue., Text in lower right corner of plate, preceded by the word "Price" that has been mostly burnished out: Plain 3d coloured 6., Six lines of text below each image. Under the image of British Liberty: Religion, morality, loyalty ... Under the image of French Liberty: Atheism, perjury, rebellion ... At the lower edge, below both columns: Which is best., and Mounted to 32 x 45 cm.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
France
Subject (Topic):
Medusa (Greek mythology), Britannia (Symbolic character), Decapitations, Hangings (Executions)., Liberty cap, Liberty, Scales, Ships, History, and Foreign public opinion, British
"A flying demon holds the level beam of a pair of scales, on which stand Wilkes (left) and Parson Horne (right). Each stands in the attitude of a fencer, thrusting at the other with an outstretched goose-quill; neither has the advantage. Wilkes wears a bag-wig, Horne is in parson's gown and bands. The demon says: "nicely pois'd indeed". The print illustrates "The Balance of Honour and Patriotism; or a Dialogue between Mr. H------and Mr. ------, in which the Demon of Discord very properly interferes". The dialogue ends with Horne's expressing a wish "that you, good Mr. Devil, had been conducting me to H------ll, before Malagrida [Shelburne] had persuaded me to engage in this d------n'd controversy"."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from text in image., Page number printed above image., and Plate from: The town and country magazine. London : Printed for A. Hamilton, Junr., 1771, v. 3, p. 262.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Name):
Lansdowne, William Petty, Marquis of, 1737-1805, Tooke, John Horne, 1736-1812, and Wilkes, John, 1725-1797
The Devil, flying above the scene, has cast a fishing net over a table in the foreground of a large assemblage. A judge (?) outside the net on the left points to the individuals within. These are, from left to right, a man with spectacles holding a pen and writing in a book, his place card reading "The High Bailiff's conscience", followed by a central figure at whom the assemblage is looking, a young man in a fools cap, another man standing wearing clerical bands, and an old woman seated wearing a cap. At the right of the table stands a man who lifts the tablecloth to reveal the personification of Justice decapitated below, her scales lying next to her. In the foreground on the left a dog labelled "Prerogative" urinates on a round object. His collar is inscribed "W.P. Downing Street" (a reference to Pitt?). The man wearing spectacles is almost certainly Edmund Burke, the central seated figure perhaps the King, and the man lifting the tablecloth resembles Fox. Possibly relating to the 1783 Westminster election
"A hand, 'Manus Populi', extends into the design from the upper margin, holding a chain from which hangs a pair of scales. On one (right), close to the ground, sits the Queen, hands crossed on her breast, saying: "My innocence will support me & my Country will protect me-- 10 Great Men against one unprotected Woman are fearful odds." The other scale, high in the air, is completely filled by a green bag, see British Museum Satires No. 13735, from the mouth of which emerges the head of George IV, crowned. Attached to the beam, by a rope round his neck, hangs a military officer, holding a huge key; as a makeweight he dangles vainly against the left side of the King's bag. Three men standing below pull at the scale, trying to drag it down: they are Sidmouth (left), a judge in back view (? Leach), and Castlereagh (right), who says: "We cannot do it, and I told you so at first, & if she opens her bag we shall be stifled all of us." The King looks down at them with a distressed expression, saying: "Pull you lubbers.""--British Museum online catalogue
Alternative Title:
Green bag, its contents and all its appendages are insufficient to turn the scale of public opinion
Description:
Title etched below image., Date precedes publisher's statement in imprint., and Sheet trimmed to plate mark.
Publisher:
Pubd. by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly
Subject (Geographic):
England.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, and Leach, John, 1760-1834
Subject (Topic):
Politicians, Military officers, British, Keys (Hardware), Scales, and Bags
Charles Fox, dressed as Cromwell, paints the execution of Charles I, using royal crown and sceptre as artist's tools. Above the canvas hangs a painting showing a fox, with the Liberty cap on a stick, presenting a male figure of America with a sheet of paper inscribed, "Independence." Behind Fox stands the angry female figure of Justice, her blindfold removed, a sword inscribed, "justice," in her right hand. In the left hand she holds a pair of scales of which the one filled with "loyalty" outweighs the one holding a fox. On the floor lies an open volume entitled, "Patriotism by C. Cromwell," propped on the hilt of a sword labeled, "Commonwealth."
Description:
Title from item.
Publisher:
Pubd. as the act directs, by J. Cattermoul, No. 376 Oxford Street
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and England
Subject (Name):
Fox, Charles James, 1749-1806. and Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658.
Subject (Topic):
Politics and government, Painting, Scales, Daggers & swords, Foxes, and Clothing & dress
