With three wood engravings entitled “Destructive fire in the Tower of London”, “Ruling the roast”, and “One of the thimble-rig gentry”, the last of which is signed with the initials of Charles Jameson Grant.
“No. 51”.
841.11.14.01++
Acquired March 2019
63 820 B13
Acquired March 2018
“he Devil, laden with Tories, strides to the left, quoting the Duke of Newcastle with a gloating grin: ‘Can’t I do what I like with MY OWN’ [see BM Satires No. 15884, &c.]. Across his shoulder is a trident on which a bloated bishop is spiked. From the lower end of the handle a rat-trap (see BM Satires No. 15734), on which Peel sits, hangs by a rope. Wellington, encircled by the barbed tail, is dragged along, kicking violently. He is in uniform with spurred boots; a gibbet projects from his cocked hat. Under the Devil’s arm are two lawyers: Wetherell in his slovenly dress, and Lyndhurst. The remainder are tied by ropes to the Devil’s back; most prominent (left to right) are Ellenborough, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Croker. The others are scarcely characterized; a Scots cap may denote Lauderdale, a renegade.”–Britism Museum online catalogue.
Folio 75 G750 832 no. 6 (Oversize)
Acquired November 2016
Two policemen are shown arresting chimney sweeps, roughly pulling one by the arm and another pushing an adult chimney sweep away while carrying four little boys on his back or in his arm. Two chimney sweeps on the left and one on the right complain of the crackdown on their trade.
Catalog Record and Digital Collection
Folio 75 G750 833 Copy 2 (Oversize) no. 55
Acquired December 2016
Emaciated and shaven-headed paupers treated as slaves by cruel overseers: adults beating hemp and children picking rope in the foreground, others in the background manacled to the wall or hanging from the ceiling, tied up by their feet and hands; to right, a manager with a scourge seizing an elderly man, and a man pulling a cart, which he says is full of dead infants to be sold to surgeons; to left, a manager turning away the starving poor who beg to be let in.”–British Museum online catalogue.
Catalog Record & Digital Collection
Folio 75 G750 833 Copy 2 (Oversize)
Acquired December 2016
“The head and shoulders of the dog, who has a handsome collar inscribed ‘John Bull’, project into the design from the right. One paw presses down a rat with the head of Wellington, who looks up in anguish at the dog’s angry jowl. Behind are other frightened rats with human heads: a bloated bishop, Peel, Wetherell, Eldon, Cumberland, and two others. The rats have been robbing the barn of ears of wheat.”–British Museum online catalogue.
Catalog Record & Digital Collection
Folio 75 G750 823 no. 7
Acquired November 2016
A broadside with a collection of songs
“Notice. This is to give notice to those persons who are in the constant habit of pirating my copyrights that if they dare to print any part of this sheet, they shall be proceeded against according to the law. James Catnach”
Catalog Record & Digital Collection
822.00.00.63++
Acquired July 2016
A broadside with a collection of songs.
Catalog Record & Digital Collection
822.00.00.62++
Acquired July 2016
A decree of the Common Council of Bristol signed: Cann.
The wood-engraved of the Bristol city arms is between “Civitas” and “Bristol.”
File 64 726 B776++
Acquired July 2016
“Three symmetrically prancing lions (left) and Napoleon (right) as ‘The Beast’ face each other across a narrow channel. In the background (left) John Bull, an obese citizen, sits surrounded by casks and bales (one marked ‘I’ or ‘L M’) under the Tree of the ‘Constitution’. This has three branches: in the uppermost is a royal crown, the others (presumably) represent the Lords and Commons, … Behind him are symbols of industry: men reaping, a bee-hive, a thatched farm-house. Above the tree flies an angel with a flaming sword … Napoleon’s head is scarcely caricatured, but has two horns – on one is poised an imperial crown, on the other the Papal tiara. In his dragon’s claws he holds up a dagger and three short chains (for the lions); he is branded ‘666’, and his tail is triply barbed. He has webbed wings, scaly shoulders, and a tiger-like body. Under his feet are broken fragments of crowns, sceptres, and crosiers. … In the background (right) two demons fly above a breaking staff surmounted with the cap of liberty; at its feet lies a man in chains. A firing squad aims at women and children; buildings are in flames. The (printed) ‘Explanation: ‘JOHN BULL is sitting under his favourite Oak, supported by Commerce and Industry reaping the Fruits of his Labors, and protected by the power of God, whilst France is enslaved under their Tree of Liberty, which is falling to the Ground – the Honors and Independence of Nations are broken and trampled underfoot, and all the Horrors of War are extending their Ravages with unremitting fury. – Bonaparte is considered as the Dragon, the Beast, and the false Prophet, Rev. xvi. 13, xiii. II, and following verses, xix. 20 – and also as Gog, Ezek. xxxviii. and xxxix. – His brutal and ferocious Dispositions are represented by the Body and Feet of a Tyger; his inordinate Desires, by the Chest, Wings, and Claws of a Dragon, holding out Death or Slavery; his Head with two Horns represents his civil and ecclesiastical Authority; and is intended to point out, that though a Dragon and a Tyger have been the most dreadful and destructive of all real and imaginary Creatures, yet even their horrid Natures are surpassed by the sanguinary and rapacious Dispositions of that implacable Tyrant. – The THREE LIONS represent the united Naval, Regular and Volunteer Force of England, Scotland, and Ireland, watching the Monster’s Motions, and springing forth eager to meet him.”–British Museum online catalogue.
Catalog Record & Digital Collection
804.00.00.19+
Acquired May 2016