They have been weighed in the balance

description below

“Mrs. Clarke (left) stands on one of a pair of scales which is held down by Wardle and almost rests on the ground, while three lawyers in wigs and gowns (evidently Sir W. Grant, Gibbs, and Plomer) stand on the other (right) which General Clavering tries desperately to pull down. The beam is inscribed England expects every Man to do his Duty, and is supported on a mitre (see British Museum Satires No. 11227) worn by the Duke of York, who stands on William Adam’s back, which is inscribed Rock of Adam ant. Adam, who lies prone, puffs a blast inscribed Gratuisously [sic] against Mrs. Clarke. Under his hand is an Anonymous Letter. Wardle, in civilian dress, holds out towards the Duke a paper headed [Ch]arges. Perceval, in his Chancellor of the Exchequer’s gown, leans towards the right scale, holding out two papers: 199 Majority and 82 Majority, another, 241 Majority, lies on the scale. Where this scale is attached to the beam there is a purse labelled Light Crown Pieces. The Duke wears regimentals with gorget and star, and holds a paper: the Honor of a . . . [Prince]. He holds his drawn sword across Perceval, as if protecting him. Clavering sits on the ground, straining at the ropes. He sits on a paper inscribed [G]enl Claver[ing], and has a paper: Prevaricating Evidence [see British Museum Satires No. 11247]. Beside him is a fragment of paper inscribed Sic donec. Beside the principal performers, and between Mrs. Clarke and the Duke, stands John Bull, a short fat ‘cit’, holding a large weight inscribed Vox Populi –Sterling. He says: If I dont throw in my weight, our dearest sweetest Love will get the worst of it after all. (Her scale, however, rests on the ground with Wardle’s help only.) She turns to him, saying, O Mr Bull! Pray give a pull! At her feet are Letters [see British Museum Satires No. 11228, &c.].”–British Museum online catalogue.

 

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: They have been weighed in the balance, and are found wanting [graphic] / Flagelantes invt.
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. March 1809 by Walker, No. 7 Cornhill, [March 1809]

Catalog Record

809.03.00.07+

Acquired November 2022

The new banking company’s scales of equity

description below

“A hand projects from the upper margin, holding the ornate beam of a pair of scales against the irradiated inscription Mene mene–Tekel, &c. [cf. British Museum Satires No. 10072, &c.]. One scale (left) is filled by a large melon from which a slice has been cut, and by a paper: One Million Sterling!! The scale is inscribed The times are Rank Hamlet. This slightly outweighs the other scale which is filled by a ducal coronet and papers: Lt R. N–; Duke E[ar]l Baron; Earl of–; Hery Grd Falconer; Chany; Nell Gwynn!; Hery Regr Chancery! The scale is inscribed A Pledge of Better Times.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Jones, Thomas Howell, active 1823-1848, printmaker.
  • Title: The new banking company’s scales of equity [graphic] / Aristocracy ivent. ; Democracy fect.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, Novr. 1825.

Catalog Record

825.11.00.01+

Acquired November 2020

Iohn Bull as Justice weighing a commander

“John Bull, blindfold, stands on a massive truncated pillar holding the beam of a pair of scales. In one scale (left), near the ground, Mrs. Clarke sits composedly among a mass of papers, holding one inscribed My dear Dearest Dearest Darling [see British Museum satires no. 11228, &c.]. The others are inscribed: Sandon, Toyne [Tonyn], Dowler, Omeara, Carter, French, Knight, Clavering. In the other scale the Duke of York swings high in the air, and shouts down to three men on the ground: Save me save me Save my Honour [cf. British Museum satires no. 11269]. They haul hard at ropes attached to his scale, which they tilt sideways so that he is in danger of falling out. One, a drink-blotched bishop wearing a mitre, says: Pull away Pull away the Church is in danger; the other two say: Pull away Pull away we lose all our Places, and Pull away pull away we shall lose our Noble Commander. On the pillar Britannia is depicted seated with her shield and lion; she holds the broken staff of a flag.”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Cruikshank, Isaac, 1756?-1811?, printmaker.
  • Title: Iohn Bull as Justice weighing a commander [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : Pubd. by J. Johnstone, 101 Cheapside, April 1809.

Catalog Record

809.04.22.02+

Acquired September 2019

Justice

Justice. Detailed description below

“Justice stands on a small rocky plateau surrounded by waves. She holds up a pair of scales; on one scale (left) stands the Queen, noble and dignified, in royal robes, the crown at her feet. She far outweighs the other scale, on which is a huge green bag: ‘Ev[ide]nce a[gainst] [t]he [Que]en’; Castlereagh, Sidmouth, and Canning stand round it, with a serpent as pendant to the crown. The Queen holds out a scroll headed ‘Righ .. of .. Queen’ and an open book: ‘Liturgy’. Castlereagh holds out to her a scroll headed ‘50,000 pr An’; he says: “Another Bag (now almost ready) Will make the Balance firm & steady, And certain other pond’rous stuff Will make the Lady light enough.” Sidmouth flourishes a clyster-pipe (cf. British Museum Satires No. 9849). Canning stands behind the Bag on the extreme right; he says: “I wish to God that I was out Of this infernal mounting Scale, For plainly I percieve a rout, And that the Lady must prevail.” The Queen: “Vipers Go! I can’t endure you, You wrong me I assure you, Yet still I spurn the wrong, and view, With calmness all your Bag can do.” Below the title : ‘”Do thou inspire the stroke “With prevalence divine – as thine the wrong, “Vengeance and punishment to thee belong; “The injur’d state of Innocece [sic] restore, “Crush the bold insults of aspiring pow’r, “Shine like thy radiant source, and mak the world adore.'”–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Williams, Charles, active 1797-1830, printmaker.
  • Title: Justice [graphic].
  • Publication: [London] : [publisher not identified], [1 August 1820]

Catalog Record 

820.08.01.01

Acquired May 2019

The green bag, it’s contents & all it’s appendages

The green bag. Detailed description below.

“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 bagwe shall be stifled all of us.” The King looks down at them with a distressed expression, saying: “Pull you lubbers.””–British Museum online catalogue.

  • Printmaker: Heeston, active 1820, printmaker.
  • Title: The green bag, it’s contents & all it’s appendages are insufficient to turn the scale of public opinion [graphic] / Heeston fect.
  • Publication: London : Pubd. by S.W. Fores, 41 Piccadilly, July 11, 1820.

Catalog Record 

820.07.11.01+

Acquired April 2019

Majority one against the boroughmongers

lwlpr33540 (1024x751)

A satire on the electoral Reform Bill of 1831, which was passed soon after this print was issued. Grant shows the figure of blind Justice leaning out from a mass of billowing clouds and holding her scales labelled “Reform 1813”. The load on the left side labeled “People’, though containing fewer documents — Magna Carta, Economy & Retrenchment, Peace of Plenty, Extension of the Electi[c] Franchise, Cheap Government — is heavier than the other plate “Oligarchy” which is weighted down by: Bribes, Corruption, Six Acts, Corn Law, Church, Rotten Boroughs, Corporation Charters, Law & Iniquity, Taxes, Imposts, Holy Alliance, [F?]onal Debt. A group of four men in the left foreground include a judge; the one man says “Behold! a mere feather turns the ballance in our favour and saves us from revolution & disgrace.” Just beyond them in the middle distance the King stands firmly and says “The triumph of this great & vital cause will fix my crown more firm upon my head.” On the right a group of over six men including a clergyman who wipes his brow and cries “The draft is in their favor. Our cause is lost. Oh dictatorium, dictatorium, dic-“. Another gentleman behind him cries “They may vainly recken on a paltry unit, we have yet power to rent it peicemeal [sic].” In the distance a crowd cheers, and some hold signs for “Reform” and “Support the King & his ministers”, etc.

  • PrintmakerGrant, C. J. (Charles Jameson), active 1830-1852.
  • TitleMajority one against the boroughmongers [graphic] / C.J. Grant.
  • Publication[London] : Pub. by John Fairburn, Broadway, Ludgate Hill, March 26th, 1831.

Catalog Record & Digital Collection

831.03.26.01+

Acquired January 2016